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Newchurch campaigners in court

N A R | 04.03.2006 14:08 | Animal Liberation | Birmingham

Four animal rights campaigners are due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday 6th March.

The four are charged with conspiracy to blackmail David Hall and partners and others connected to Darley Oaks Farm, Newchurch, Staffordshire, between 1 September 1999 and 27 September this year. They allegedly conspired together "with a view to cause loss to another" by making unwarranted demands for the closure of Darley Oaks Farm. Three of them have been held on remand since last September.

They have been charged with blackmail, the logic being that if you threaten to protest in order to coerce someone to do something and any element of illegality is involved, then that is blackmail and potentially anyone who goes on a demo or writes a letter or makes a phone call with the intention of persuading the recipient to stop harming animals could be at risk dependant on this case.

The remand details are:

John Smith (TB4887)
HMP Birmingham, Winson Green Road, Birmingham B18 4AS

Jon Ablewhite (TB4885)
HMP Birmingham, Winson Green Road, Birmingham B18 4AS

Kerry Whitburn (TB4886)
HMP Birmingham, Winson Green Road, Birmingham B18 4AS

The forth defendant, Josephine Mayo has been charged and released on conditional bail.


Whilst the above defendants are not accused of any 'grave' offences, the Staffordshire Police have mounted a campaign of harassment and intimidation against peaceful protestors since the body of Gladys Hammond, the mother-in-law to one of the Hall brothers, was stolen from a grave in October of last year. Whilst there has been no claim of this being an animal rights action, some question whether it ever actually happened and no independent inspection of the crime scene has been allowed.

If she had been dug up by AR activists it would have been expected that by now they would have made an anonymous deal to return her in exchange for the release of those on remand, and the dropping of all charges against all those have so far been charged in connection with Newchurch. Gladys would be an ideal bargaining tool to achieve this.

Some are not convinced that she has been dug up, and even
if she has it was probably by persons in the pay of the government or Halls to discredit the AR movement.

One of those harassed by the police, John Curtin, is suing the police over their behaviour - John was in London at the High Court when Mrs Hammond’s body was stolen!

As with all newspapers/media remember they work on the old adage, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story"

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Save The Newchurch Guinea Pigs: www.liberation-now.org

Nottingham Animal Rights (including NewsList): www.veggies.org.uk/nar

Veggies Animal Rights Calendar: www.veggies.org.uk/arc.php

N A R

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SICK

09.03.2006 17:04

Save the newchurch guinea pigs are scum. They tried to murder the Halls small children by laying ball bearings out on his stairs. They can lock them up and throw away the key for all I care.

The implication that the Halls HIRED someone to dig up Gladys Hammond's corpse is sick, and you should be ashamed of yourself.

Hertz
mail e-mail: shac.is.gay@gmail.com


Campaigners admit robbing grave

11.04.2006 15:52

Kerry Whitburn, John Smith and John Ablewhite admitted to charges including robbing 82-yr old Gladys Hammond's grave at Nottingham Crown Court on 10 April 2006.

James Heartfield
mail e-mail: Heartfield@blueyonder.co.uk
- Homepage: http://www.heartfield.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk


get your facts right

07.05.2006 23:02

the above comment is incorrect. the four have pleaded guilty to blackmail and were at no point accused of grave robbery. Before posting comments people should be aware of the full story, lies like this are dangerous.

friend of the prisoners


get your facts right

08.05.2006 16:17

The above comment is incorrect, people should be aware of the truth and consequences of their comments before posting them. At no time have the four been accused of grave robbery and I wonder at the motives of any person spreading such lies, they have pleaded guilty to blackmail, which amounts to no more than letter writing and making phone calls.

friend of the prisoners


Well, they could always tell the relatives where the remains are

08.05.2008 23:19

If Ablewhite et al want our sympathy, they could always help by explaining where they left Mrs Hammond's remains.

James Heartfield
mail e-mail: Heartfield@blueyonder.co.uk
- Homepage: http://www.heartfield.org


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