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ARTICLE · 21 MARCH 2023

Bizarre Australian criminal cases: The Simpsons' porn case

Bizarre case where man convicted of possessing child pornography relating to images of cartoon characters.

AustraliaCriminal Law

There are many bizarre cases that form part of Australian legal history, but perhaps none more vexing when it comes to balancing the often competing considerations of free speech on the one hand, and protecting the innocent on the other, than the 2009 appellate case of McEwen v Simmons & Anor [2008] NSWSC 1292; which is commonly known as 'The Simpsons Porn Case'.

A cartoonish case

In 2008, Sydney man Alan John McEwen was convicted of possessing child pornography in contravention of section 91H(3) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and using his computer to access child pornography material contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) over material that had a distinct shade of yellow.

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