PLYMOUTH JUDGE IGNORES INTERNATIONAL LAWYER AND SAYS "NUKES LEGAL"
Joss Garman, Trident Ploughshares | 26.02.2004 18:50 | Anti-militarism | World
There were extraordinary scenes in Plymouth Crown Court today as the case of the Devonport 3 unfolded today, in a second day of hearings.
Press release: 26th February
For immediate release
PLYMOUTH JUDGE IGNORES INTERNATIONAL LAWYER AND SAYS “NUKES LEGAL“
There were extraordinary scenes in Plymouth Crown Court today as the case of the Devonport 3 unfolded today, in a second day of hearings.
Sue Brackenbury, Matt Bury and Shirley Law were told by the judge that they did in fact not have case in law because the dropping of a nuclear bomb would not be in contravention of any international law!(?) This follows on from the defendants claims that they acted to uphold International law, which clearly states nuclear weapons to be illegal.
Indeed, Professor Nick Grief, Britain's leading international lawyer, in a statement to the court, said that the protestors were justified because the deployment of Trident is illegal. Of course, Blair led this country to war because he himself said, weapons of mass destruction are illegal.
But despite the ruling by the highest legal body in the world, the International court of Justice, and despite the evidence from Prof. Grief, the judge directed the jury this afternoon that the campaigners had no legal right to do what they did. There was controversy when one of the defence barristers then said, that he “disagreed“ with the judge and that he wished to seek the advice of the bar council - a first for a Plymouth trial! Eventually, the judge made clear none of the evidence in relation to International law could be put to the jury because he said, it was “flawed.“
Trident Ploughshares spokesperson, Joss Garman, commented, “Today has been exciting in that the issues surrounding International Law and Trident's illegality have been raised. However, I am shocked that this Judge can even start to think that the dropping of a nuclear bomb would not be a war crime. This not only raises issues around whether the protestors were denied a fair trial, but also, what was Blair doing in Iraq if WMD are not illegal?“
Sue Brackenbury who has served the equivalent of an eight month sentence on remand, was released this afternoon on bail to appear in court tomorrow when a verdict is expected.
The case will continue, and conclude tomorrow.
For more information:
Joss Garman 07815 004 578
www.tridentploughshares.org
For immediate release
PLYMOUTH JUDGE IGNORES INTERNATIONAL LAWYER AND SAYS “NUKES LEGAL“
There were extraordinary scenes in Plymouth Crown Court today as the case of the Devonport 3 unfolded today, in a second day of hearings.
Sue Brackenbury, Matt Bury and Shirley Law were told by the judge that they did in fact not have case in law because the dropping of a nuclear bomb would not be in contravention of any international law!(?) This follows on from the defendants claims that they acted to uphold International law, which clearly states nuclear weapons to be illegal.
Indeed, Professor Nick Grief, Britain's leading international lawyer, in a statement to the court, said that the protestors were justified because the deployment of Trident is illegal. Of course, Blair led this country to war because he himself said, weapons of mass destruction are illegal.
But despite the ruling by the highest legal body in the world, the International court of Justice, and despite the evidence from Prof. Grief, the judge directed the jury this afternoon that the campaigners had no legal right to do what they did. There was controversy when one of the defence barristers then said, that he “disagreed“ with the judge and that he wished to seek the advice of the bar council - a first for a Plymouth trial! Eventually, the judge made clear none of the evidence in relation to International law could be put to the jury because he said, it was “flawed.“
Trident Ploughshares spokesperson, Joss Garman, commented, “Today has been exciting in that the issues surrounding International Law and Trident's illegality have been raised. However, I am shocked that this Judge can even start to think that the dropping of a nuclear bomb would not be a war crime. This not only raises issues around whether the protestors were denied a fair trial, but also, what was Blair doing in Iraq if WMD are not illegal?“
Sue Brackenbury who has served the equivalent of an eight month sentence on remand, was released this afternoon on bail to appear in court tomorrow when a verdict is expected.
The case will continue, and conclude tomorrow.
For more information:
Joss Garman 07815 004 578
www.tridentploughshares.org
Joss Garman, Trident Ploughshares
e-mail:
info@tridentploughshares.org
Homepage:
http://www.tridentploughshares.org