Perhaps it is all just a misunderstanding, JD, but she certainly does at least lack social awareness not to say manners. When in Rome and all that. That is not to say that Aussies don't care about losing face, it's just not spoken of so much here. Try calling the beak in court a rude name and see how far you get.
As for the actual situation, I think that it is quite possible here for the same thing to happen. Get accused of theft, abuse cops, get aquitted on the theft charge and guilty on the abuse charge.Probably wouldn't end up in gaol here though, I must admit.
