A shark vomited up a human arm. It led to an unusual criminal case
June 4, 2024 6:42 PM Subscribe
A shark vomited up a human arm. It led to an unusual criminal case seen at the New South Wales Supreme Court. For two centuries, the Supreme Court of NSW has heard countless cases. Here are some of the most historically significant or strange ones. (Note for people outside Australia, in Australia there are three levels of courts; each state has it's own Supreme Court, then beyond that there is the High Court for all of Australia. This is because the Supreme Courts existed and were named before Federation happened in 1901.)
(Note for people outside Australia, in Australia there are three levels of courts; each state has it's own Supreme Court, then beyond that there is the High Court for all of Australia. This is because the Supreme Courts existed and were named before Federation happened in 1901.)
chariot pulled by cassowaries: It's okay, in the US every single state has a Supreme Court and then the country as a whole has another (even more) Supreme Court! (And to make it even worse: in New York their high court is the Court of Appeals, but their trial-level court is called the Supreme Court instead!)
posted by adrienneleigh at 10:38 PM on June 4 [3 favorites]
chariot pulled by cassowaries: It's okay, in the US every single state has a Supreme Court and then the country as a whole has another (even more) Supreme Court! (And to make it even worse: in New York their high court is the Court of Appeals, but their trial-level court is called the Supreme Court instead!)
posted by adrienneleigh at 10:38 PM on June 4 [3 favorites]
before Federation happened in 1901
Another complication in the US results from a similar quirk of history. With the Louisiana Purchase/Vente de la Louisiane the US "nominally acquired a total of 828,000 sq mi (2,140,000 km2; 530,000,000 acres) in Middle America. ...effectively, for the majority of the area, the United States bought the preemptive right to obtain Indian lands by treaty or by conquest, to the exclusion of other colonial powers." [wiki]
(The debt France was trying to alleviate resulted from a power struggle brought about by George Washington and militias under his command when, as Washington says, "We killed Mr. de Jumonville" [wiki, see also Crucible of War: the 7 Years' War & the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766].)
In combination with this history, as well as Spanish colonialism [Louisiana.gov], that state has a "resulting system of "civil law"... differ[ing] from the "common-law" systems in the other 49 states". also, perhaps unsurprisingly(?), the largest prison/rodeo in the world: Angola
posted by HearHere at 4:48 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
Another complication in the US results from a similar quirk of history. With the Louisiana Purchase/Vente de la Louisiane the US "nominally acquired a total of 828,000 sq mi (2,140,000 km2; 530,000,000 acres) in Middle America. ...effectively, for the majority of the area, the United States bought the preemptive right to obtain Indian lands by treaty or by conquest, to the exclusion of other colonial powers." [wiki]
(The debt France was trying to alleviate resulted from a power struggle brought about by George Washington and militias under his command when, as Washington says, "We killed Mr. de Jumonville" [wiki, see also Crucible of War: the 7 Years' War & the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766].)
In combination with this history, as well as Spanish colonialism [Louisiana.gov], that state has a "resulting system of "civil law"... differ[ing] from the "common-law" systems in the other 49 states". also, perhaps unsurprisingly(?), the largest prison/rodeo in the world: Angola
posted by HearHere at 4:48 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
I have loved this story for years... "it was a bit sick, sir" ....."umm, how did you know?"......" well sir, it chucked up an arm".... gold
Though also how does an Aussie story about a shark chucking up an arm turn into comments on the American court system, sigh
posted by Lesium at 5:14 AM on June 5 [3 favorites]
Though also how does an Aussie story about a shark chucking up an arm turn into comments on the American court system, sigh
posted by Lesium at 5:14 AM on June 5 [3 favorites]
I did read the article for the other notable cases, but... no, nothing tops the shark arm murder. I had read about that one before, it's wild.
posted by mersen at 8:22 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
posted by mersen at 8:22 AM on June 5 [1 favorite]
AHa, a reason beyond desire (and blowing a bit of cash) to get that arm tattoo I've been dreaming of.... although I'm far from an ocean or body of shark supporting water these days. Thank heavens.
Thanks for posting, this was interesting.
posted by winesong at 8:40 AM on June 5
Thanks for posting, this was interesting.
posted by winesong at 8:40 AM on June 5
Though also how does an Aussie story about a shark chucking up an arm turn into comments on the American court system, sigh
SCOTUSREAM
posted by knile at 8:42 AM on June 5
SCOTUSREAM
posted by knile at 8:42 AM on June 5
Keep an eye out for the Prime Minister's arm.
posted by neuron at 8:52 AM on June 5 [4 favorites]
posted by neuron at 8:52 AM on June 5 [4 favorites]
In other shark vomit news: Tiger shark regurgitates whole echidna
posted by the duck by the oboe at 5:47 PM on June 5
posted by the duck by the oboe at 5:47 PM on June 5
« Older "Who is he? Doctor who?" William Russell... | The Tourist Trap Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
Closer inspection revealed the arm had been severed by humans, not sea creatures.
And there was a clue to its owner — a forearm tattoo of two men boxing. This helped identify the arm as belonging to missing person (and shady character) James "Jimmy" Smith.
Police investigations led to the arrest of Smith's close friend and fellow shady character Patrick Brady, who had been seen drinking with Smith at Cronulla before he disappeared.
Be warned, the linked story has an actual photograph of the severed arm!
posted by Zumbador at 10:06 PM on June 4 [2 favorites]