The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire
In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire
UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović
US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire
Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović Anti-Empire >>
A bird's eye view of the vineyard
Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb
The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog. We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below).
What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader 2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of
The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by The Saker >>
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony Public Inquiry >>
Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
Julian Assange is finally free ! Tue Jun 25, 2024 21:11 | indy
Stand With Palestine: Workplace Day of Action on Naksa Day Thu May 30, 2024 21:55 | indy
It is Chemtrails Month and Time to Visit this Topic Thu May 30, 2024 00:01 | indy
Hamburg 14.05. "Rote" Flora Reoccupied By Internationalists Wed May 15, 2024 15:49 | Internationalist left
Eddie Hobbs Breaks the Silence Exposing the Hidden Agenda Behind the WHO Treaty Sat May 11, 2024 22:41 | indy Human Rights in Ireland >>
|
B52 Disarmament Trial Ends in Hung Jury!
international |
anti-war / imperialism |
other press
Thursday October 12, 2006 04:10 by B52Two Support Group Bristol Crown Courts (England)
![Report this post to the editors Report this post to the editors](../graphics/report.gif)
Phil & Toby on trial for going equipped to disarm a B52 at RAF Fairford score hung jury! Wednesday Afternoon, 11.10.06. HUNG JURY!
To take today in reverse order, and give you the important news first, at 3.48 this afternoon the court reconvened and the jury announced that they couldn't agree on a verdict, and were in a stalemate. So, the prosecution have failed to prove that T and P's action, the damage they conspired to commit, was criminal, and this trial is over! Result! (Though not necessarily the end of the matter.)
The start this morning was delayed by the vagaries of trains, acts of god etc, and so didn't get under way until 11.30, at which point it was announced that one of the jury had gone down with flu and wouldn't be available for today or tomorrow. The judge decided that the remaining 11 should carry on, and sent them off having told them that the absent juror's contributions up to then shouldn't influence them henceforth. The same instruction was given that he'd like a unanimous verdict but would accept one that ten of them agreed on.
Once they'd gone some reference was made to a banner outside the court reading "IS THE LAW WARFUL?" Mr Houlder said he thought it verged on contempt of court, but his opinion was dismissed by the judge, who said he thought it was rather clever actually.
After a tense day, and 12 hours and 44 minutes of deliberation, the judge accepted that the jury weren't going to be able to agree, thanked them for their efforts and discharged them. And that's that for this trial, though the prosecution said that they'll want a retrial. And T and P were released on bail, not to go within 2 metres of Fairford.
And Phil says a big thankyou to everyone who's been to court, read the blog, sent messages of support, peaceful hands for our banner and generally meant that this hasn't just been about two people's action but rather about loads of people who oppose this war and want to promote peace in the world.
That's about it from the trial blog for now. The website, www.b52two.org will tell you more, so go there in future to find out what happens next. See you at the court next time around?
|
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6wow.
anyone notice how more and more these actions work?
defending this war must be a prosecutor's worst nightmare.
Well done all! A very good result.
Fingers crossed as the case proceeds that it will end like the Pitstop Ploughshares trial.
The war gets more and more indefensible. The Lancet, that ultra-conservative journal of the medical profession, has estimated that 655,000 Iraqis have died since the invasion, over and above natural deaths that would have occured anyway. That works out at 500 extra deaths every day. George Bush said he was disturbed about the deaths (but not that disturbed) but disputed the figure saying "only" 30,000 had died.
And hopefully better luck next time for Phil and Toby!
I doubt the Crown would drop this case, arrogant as they are, and desperate to defend their warmongering, so hopefully, by the time the re-trial comes around, more of the public will have seen through the thin veneer of propoganda behind this butchery, and come to applaud the actions of a committed few who try to expose and halt it.
Will there be fuller reports (e.g. court notes), available soon?
Good news. It's not over yet, I know, but I am convinced that the longer these things go on, the stronger the defence case becomes. Keep plugging away!
Disaapointed as I am that there wasn't an acquittal, and encouraged to see such endeavours, it is generally advisable to write an original summary with a link, instead of a copy & paste.