'Child passenger in drunk driving' scandal reaches unprecedented levels: "Your actions caused immense harm..." Even the judge 'exploded with anger'

*This content was translated by AI.

It is impossible to be this shameless. David Warner (39), a legend of Australian cricket, is facing fierce criticism after admitting to drunk driving at a level warranting license revocation, yet claiming he suffered commercial losses due to media coverage.

The UK outlet 'The Guardian' focused on the issue on the 18th (Korean time), reporting that "Warner, Australia's star cricketer, expressed dissatisfaction after losing overseas commercial opportunities due to intense global media attention following his guilty verdict for drunk driving."

According to reports, during the recent Easter holiday in Australia, Warner was caught attempting to swap places with a female passenger when he encountered a police sobriety checkpoint. At the time, Warner's blood alcohol concentration was double the legal limit, indicating severe intoxication. Notably, it was revealed that children were also present in the vehicle at the time, further aggravating the severity of the offense.

The Waverley District Court sentenced Warner on the 18th to a fine of $1,500 (approximately 2 million won) and delivered a guilty verdict for drunk driving. To regain his driving privileges, Warner must apply for a conditional license requiring the mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device in his vehicle.

However, Warner's side has drawn widespread outrage over their conduct during the trial proceedings. Warner's lawyer argued in court that "the client's drunk driving was extensively reported by global outlets including ESPN, Al Jazeera, and The Express, resulting in excessive punishment," and pleaded for an exemption from a guilty verdict.

The lawyer further stated, "Countries where Warner seeks to perform, such as India and Bangladesh, prioritize alcohol-free cultures." They claimed that "the media's relentless attacks have severely damaged the commercial opportunities Warner could have enjoyed," and added that "it was excessive for police to issue press releases regarding what is essentially a routine drunk driving case."

Additionally, it is reported that Warner's lawyer used the pretext that his role as a club ambassador was now at risk. Absurdly, the Sydney Thunder is officially participating in the state government's campaign to eradicate drunk driving.

In response, Judge Claire Pannan immediately rejected Warner's side's baseless arguments. Judge Pannan clearly stated the reasoning for her ruling: "Public awareness of eradicating drunk driving takes absolute priority. Drunk driving remains a major factor causing numerous collision accidents." She emphasized, "The situation is even more serious given that children were present in the vehicle at the time of the incident."

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*This content was translated by AI.