The saga of this crash continues, and the pilot still lives in a fantasy world, where you obey no laws and are answerable to no-one. But he's found out, that isn't quite the case.
He fronted court today (Tuesday 27/05/2025) to face a committal hearing regarding 17 aviation charges against him, including operating and maintaining unregistered aircraft dating back to 2011, and failing to surrender his pilot's licence.
But he continually interrupted the magistrate and the court proceedings, claiming that he had no charges to answer, as the aviation laws only applied to commercial pilots and aircraft, and not to him or experimental aircraft.
When his arguments failed to convince the magistrate (and the fool was unrepresented in court), he walked out of the court, having failed to request extension of his bail.
He was immediately re-arrested on the footpath out front of the court and returned to court, where his bail was was extended - and he was committed to stand trial on the 17 charges laid.
He claims the Civil Aviation Act 1988 is unlawful, and the courts have no power over him, as he's a "sovereign citizen". I think he's going to find out that none of his arguments hold any water, and I think we can look to see him facing some serious penalties, maybe even some jail time.
Not a single one of these so-called "sovereign citizens" has ever successfully argued their cases in any Australian court, that Australian laws don't apply to them.
I'm surprised the relatives of the gent killed haven't sued him for his death, as it appears a pretty clear-cut case to me. And I'm surprised that the Police have failed to pursue this pilot for manslaughter.
The simple fact that he failed to replace faulty seat belts and the passengers belt snapped in the crash, seems like a straightforward case of negligence, or failing to take due care, to me.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-27/ball-bay-crash-pilot-arrested-after-walking-out-of-court/105344884