The Crown versus Peter Lawrence Buck

Entertaining transcripts from the London trial of REM guitarist Peter Buck in 2001, at which he was charged with offences resulting from a drunken 'air rage' incident. He was later cleared of the charges, convincing the court that he had been a victim of 'non-insane automatism'.

"Although he was not drunk at this stage, at 13:05, according to the doctor, his breath smelt of stale alcohol, his lower coat was covered in dried yoghurt and he had slight nystagmus, which is a rapid oscillation of the eyeball movement, indicative of intoxication, and he had two red bruises on the back of his right hand - no doubt, the Crown would say, as a result perhaps of hitting the wall. Other than that, he was mentally fine, it would appear."

The Smoking Gun

[Courtesy of C4 Miles]