US embassy crash driver found not guilty due to mental illness
A man who drove his car into the gates of the United States embassy in Canberra last year has been found not guilty by the ACT Supreme Court because of his mental illness.
Adrian Richardson from Queensland had absconded from a mental health facility at the time of the offence.
The 30-year-old was facing one charge of damaging the premises of an international property.
The court heard security staff saw Richardson driving slowly around the high-security embassy in the suburb of Yarralumla about 6:00pm on July 10, 2013.
It was alleged he then turned off his lights, drove to within 20 metres of the main gate, revved his engine and rammed into it.
He was arrested after police found him inside his car, which was wedged in the gates of the embassy.
Reports read to the court reveal Richardson gave various accounts about why he did it, from being the victim of a conspiracy by the Chinese government, to being a journalist who had gone to the embassy seeking a work visa after a lucrative job offer.
Prosecutors have told the court the gate was badly damaged in the incident and cost more than $15,000 to repair.
Richardson was diagnosed with a psychotic illness and the prosecution agreed with his plea of not guilty by mental impairment.
However, under Commonwealth law the matter must be decided by a jury.
The jury took 15 minutes to reach a verdict.
Richardson has been placed on a psychiatric order for three years.
