Trial date of Wen shoe-thrower changed over "sensitivities"

Apr 7, 2009, 12:15 GMT

London - The trial of a German academic accused of hurling a shoe at Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao at Cambridge University in Britain has been brought forward to avoid it clashing with events marking the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

German researcher Martin Jahnke, 27, was due to go on trial on June 2, 3 and 4 on charges of having 'harassed, alarmed or distressed' the Chinese premier during his visit to Cambridge on February 2.

But the city's magistrates court said Tuesday that the trial dates had been switched to June 1, 2 and 3 because June 4 is the 20th anniversary of the shooting by the Chinese army of pro-democracy protestors in Beijing.

Prosecutor Punam Malhan told the court that staging the trial on the anniversary created 'concerns' and 'security issues.' The court's legal advisor also said that June 4 would be a 'sensitive date.'

Jahnke, a researcher at the university's pathology department, is alleged to have thrown a shoe at Wen while he gave a lecture to students during his visit to Britain two months ago.

Jahnke has admitted throwing a shoe - which narrowly missed Wen - but denies having caused harassment, alarm or distress.