this is an update to the story at  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/01/361062.html

barbara was held overnight at charing cross police station. no-one was allowed to visit her and she was taken by police to westminster court early this morning. finally after 18 hours in detention, she appeared infront of judge snow at around 3pm.

police wanted her remanded to holloway prison until trial (set for the month of may - five months imprisonment for peaceful protest!!).

solicitor laura higgs from bindmans argued with judge snow on several counts - first, that the summonses bailed were related to offences in august last year, but that a similar case heard inseptember had already been thrown out of court as 'void ab initio'. secondly, that imprisonment was completely disproportionate in terms of the human rights convention, and thirdly, that she was acting lawfully anyway (having notified the commissioner of her protest back in march).

for a while it seemed as though judge snow was still ready to send barbara to jail, but then brian haw piped up. his points were that barbara had never missed a court or police station appearance, had complied fully with all legal requirements, presented no threat, and so didn't need to be bailed at all. also that since the police claim that her notification was unlawful had never been tested in court, the whole proceeding was an abuse of process. brian wouldn't stop, and judge snow made a swift exit while the court was cleared. after a while, the judge returned to court, and announced that he had considered the issue of the summons dates, and would now be offering unconditional bail until a february pre-trial review (he stated 12th, but it is thought her next appointment is 22nd). however, it seems all the police have to do is issue summons relating to alleged socpa offences after september last year (of which there are plenty) and judge snow may yet again impose conditions preventing barbara from demonstrating against blair's genocide. so her freedom and today's victory may be short-lived.

judge snow also issued a stern warning that if brian haw ever interrupted his court again, he would be imprisoned for contempt of court.


further details soon.