British protester who threw a plate of foam at Rupert Murdoch during a parliamentary hearing into the phone hacking scandal pleaded guilty to assault on Friday. The protester, Jonathan May-Bowles, 26, left, a comedian who uses the stage name Jonnie Marbles, will be sentenced on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters outside the London court, Mr. May-Bowles said, “I would just like to say this has been the most humble day of my life,” parroting almost verbatim Mr. Murdoch’s words to the parliamentary committee last week.
A man who had been sitting at the back of the Wilson Room in Portcullis House in Westminster, listening to Murdoch and his son James give evidence, was seen to get up and walk around the left side of the packed room to get to where the 80-year-old was sitting.
The man threw a paper plate with white foam piled on top at Murdoch's face, leaving him soaking.
Murdoch's wife, Wendi Deng, leapt to her husband's defence, first slapping the attacker and then throwing the plate at him as he was led away by police.
The incident was condemned by audience members and MPs including commons speaker John Bercow.
May-Bowles, who goes by the name Jonnie Marbles, was charged by police with a public order offence and will appear at City of Westminster magistrates' court.
