earlier this week, stephen jago was at horseferry road magistrate's court for pre-trial matters relating to a socpa offence. as he has been denied legal aid, he is defending himself. by law, he is allowed to have a 'mackenzie's friend' in court with him for moral and legal support. barbara tucker agreed to play this role.

in court, judge evans told her that she had been summonsed to the court on four new socpa charges and asked for her plea. she had no pre-knowledge of these summonses, as it later turns out that they had been sent erroneously to an old address, although the court has been formally notified of her current address, and a previous intervening address as well.

so she refused to plea, and challenged the judge when he said that he would enter a not-guilty plea for her. she said the court had no authority to do so as she had not seen the summonses, had no idea of the evidence against her, couldn't even recall some of the dates and alleged offences against her, and had no lawful reason to even be there that day other than as stephen's advisor.

the judge left the court, sent for the serco guards and had her charged with contempt of court. brian haw, who had been sitting in the public gallery, was also taken to the cells when he tried to vocally intervene on barbara's behalf.

both will appear in front of a different judge tomorrow afternoon (thursday 29th march) at 2pm at horseferry road, and they will be pleading 'not guilty' on the basis that the judge and the court had not been behaving lawfully.

this latest incident follows a whole series of judgements by magistrates at horseferry that have later been overturned when challenged. one such was an attempt to impose bail conditions on barbara banning her from entering the socpa-designated zone. she was arrested that evening outside downing street, held overnight for breach of bail, and then the conditions were lifted immediately when challenged the next morning. there was a proviso on the judgement however that if she were arrested again for any offence within the zone they would be reapplied.

the very next day, she was arrested in parliament square for allegedly assaulting a police officer. but the case was soon withdrawn, changed first to 'obstructing an officer', and then to 'no further action', so a new legal challenge on the resulting bail conditions once more allowed her to freely enter the zone.

'contempt of court' is a serious charge very likely leading to imprisonment, so supporters, interested parties, and members of the press are very welcome at the court tomorrow to ensure some tiny amount of justice is seen to be done.

2pm horseferry road court thursday march 29th