Pink Castle victory: Littlemoor Four acquitted/War letters/Jury trial of GM-Free Wales crop pullers (8/3/2003) | |
8 March 2003 PINK CASTLE VICTORY: LITTLEMOOR FOUR ACQUITTED/WAR LETTERS/JURY TRIAL OF GM-FREE WALES CROP PULLERS *Pink Castle Victory *** Pink Castle Victory: Littlemoor Four Acquitted at Sherborne Magistrates Court The magistrate accepted the defence of all four defendants in that they were acting reasonably to prevent damage to property. In this case, as defined in law, this is all property which is owned, eg - bee hives, maize crops, fields, wild animals not included. He also said that they acted reasonably by locking themselves onto tractors because there were so many tractors and simply standing in front of them would not have prevented the crop being sown. The defendants gave seriously impressive evidence and absolutely demonstrated their commitment to campaigning, NVDA and their breadth of knowledge on GE. It was a complex summing up and this is just a flavour and hey, my mind was wandering into excited relief at the time. It was amazing. The offence related to a maize FSE in Weymouth adjacent to Teddy Bear Woods and the Littlemoor Estate. The defendants and companions built a [fantastic] Pink Castle and staged an occupation of the field. They were 100% successful in preventing any maize seeds germinating on this site!!!!!!! They were arrested under the charge of Aggravated Trespass and their solicitor has said the acquittal is a landmark legal victory and the first time this defence has been successful - one for the history books then? Louise :-) *** JURY TRIAL OF GM-FREE WALES CROP PULLERS Chester Crown Court, 31 March to 3 April On 31 March to 3 April two women, Yvonne and Rowan, will stand trial by jury at Chester Crown Court for their part in making Wales a GM free zone. This is a great opportunity to put GM on trial and to celebrate nonviolent resistance to GM crops in Wales. Please come along to watch the trial and support. Please bring banners and costumes. If you need accommodation this is being organised but please call to check there is space. If you can offer accommodation or know anyone in or near Chester who might be willing to help with providing accommodation for supporters please get in touch. Expert witnesses will be called including Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher (genetic scientist) and Dr. Sue Mayer of GeneWatch. Local campaigners will be called as witnesses to testify on the resistance to GM in Wales. Background: CONTACT PUBLIC MEETING Click here to send a letter of support to the countries currently opposing a war in Iraq (France, Germany, Russia, China, and Syria): Click here to send a letter of opposition to the countries currently supporting a war in Iraq (US, UK, Spain and Bulgaria): Click here to send a letter to the "middle six" countries currently being lobbied by each side (Mexico, Cameroon, Guinea, Angola, Chile, and Pakistan): VISIT THE CYBERCENTRE Please don't forget to visit the Greenpeace Cyberactivist Community at: |