THE ITT CROWD

As the EDO Decommissioners trial goes into its second week, the defence celebrated their first victory when the case against one of the defendants was dropped.

Rosa Bellamy walked free on Tuesday (15th) when the judge ruled the prosecution’s evidence lacked the substance it needed to prove she was part of a conspiracy to cause damage and directed the jury to find her not guilty. He said, “There is no guilt by association. The fact that she knows some of the co-defendants is neither here nor there.” The defendant’s silver dress brandished by the prosecution as a main piece of evidence didn’t reel in the desired effect, as it was deemed not typical of the clothing anyone would wear if they were on their way to break into a factory.

This week also saw Paul Hills, managing director of EDO/MBM/ITT finish his statement, followed by the wrap up of the prosecution case. Hills was accused of lying by the defence and kindly warned by the judge of the risks of perjuring himself.

It is significant to note that the jury will be given access as background briefing into the case of a brief summary of the Goldstone report - an independent international fact finding mission to investigate violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the Occupied Territories, which investigated last year’s military assault on the Gaza Strip. The defendants told the jury it highlighted how the democratic processes had failed to deal with the situation, which shows political inadequacy to deal with problems that will affect profit margins. They argued it provided a strong case for a moral and legal obligation to stop a greater crime through non-violent direct action in order to save a life.

On Thursday (17th), the defence case entered the arena with the first of the decommissioners to take the stand. To the SchNEWS court reporter, Ornella Saibene seemed clear and thorough throughout without getting ruffled by the prosecution’s cross examinations. Her answers came across with conviction and honesty. Proceedings continue at 10.30am Friday (18th), supporters and the public are welcome to attend inside and outside the court as the trial of the remaining decommissioners continues.

Decommissioner Elijah James Smith will remain on remand for the duration of the trial. Letters of support are welcomed at the usual address - A3186AM, HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1EA.

* For updates see http://decommissioners.co.uk www.smashedo.org.uk

* For Goldstone report see http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/UNFFMGC_Report.pdf

MORE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

* Four Christian peace activists who shut down a secret Australian military base have had charges against them dismissed by a magistrate. The members of the Bonhoeffer Peace Collective had swum to the base on Swan Island in March. They then infiltrated the base and spent several hours shutting down a switchboard and a satellite, causing a lock down on the base and interrupting Australian warmongering in Afghanistan. The charges of tresspass were dismissed by the magistrate.

According to one of the four, Simon Reeves, “(The) magistrate agrees sanctity of life is more important than unjust laws”. For a video of the group explaining their actions see http://paceebene.org/blog/jarrod-mckenna/breaking

* Nine Plane Stupid activists are also planning to defend themselves on the grounds that they were acting to prevent a bigger crime – the crime of escalating climate change. The nine face charges of breach of the peace and vandalism after they shut down Aberdeen airport for two and a half hours in March. The trial began on Monday (14th). See www.planestupid.com