Noisy cellphone no reason for jail-Safrica court

JOHANNESBURG, Mar 3 (Reuters) A South African sentenced to a month in jail for allowing his cellphone to ring noisily in a courtroom had the sentence overturned on appeal.

Keri Gwyn Lewis was convicted after his cellphone rang while he was sitting in the public gallery of the Johannesburg High Court and he answered it while leaving the room.

SAPA news agency said the irritated judge sent bailiffs after Lewis, who ''was ordered into the witness stand, questioned about his conduct, convicted of contempt of court on the spot and sentenced to a month in jail.'' The Supreme Court of Appeal yesterday voted unanimously to overturn the conviction, saying it violated Lewis's constitutional right to a fair trial with legal representation, SAPA said.

''A rebuke or some other indication of disapproval should in most cases be an adequate measure to discourage cellphone transgressions in court,'' the judgment read.

REUTERS PDM HT0857