A college student accused of firing blanks from a starter's pistol within feet of Prince Charles at an Australian ceremony had been "prepared to die" for his cause, a federal prosecutor said Thursday.
Defendant David Kang, 23, an Australian-born student from a Korean immigrant family, appeared briefly Thursday at the Sydney Central Local District Court.Police allege Kang fired two blank shots Wednesday at the prince, who was about to make a speech to 10,000 people celebrating Australia's national day in a Sydney park.
Both defense and prosecution lawyers told the court Kang had psychiatric problems and had acted to draw attention to the plight of Cambodians detained as suspected illegal immigrants by the Australia government.
The prince was unharmed. Charles attracted large crowds despite tightened security in the towns of Forbes and Parkes in western New South Wales state Thursday as he continued his 12-day official visit.
But the prince insisted on pressing the flesh with well-wishers.
"He enjoys meeting people. It's part of the job, and if you're going to meet people the way he likes to do it, which is as informally as possible, then there's always going to be an element of risk," said his private secretary, Richard Aylard.
Kang faces six charges related to the incident and could be imprisoned for a maximum of 17 years if convicted. He said nothing during the 30-minute hearing and made no plea before a courtroom packed with reporters.
Magistrate David Hyde refused a bail application by Kang's defense lawyer after he was told Kang had been seeking psychiatric treatment for depression. Kang will remain in custody until another hearing on Feb. 4.
Defense lawyer Bill Dickens said Kang had been frustrated by the media's preoccupation with trivial happenings in the lives of Britain's royal family while the suffering of the Cambodians was ignored.
He said Kang was "a young man of gentle disposition" who had orchestrated a "media stunt."