Skip to content or view screen version

B52 Two: Not Guilty

imc-uk-features | 27.05.2007 11:20 | Anti-militarism | Iraq

On 22th May 2007, the trial of two Oxford peace activists Philip Pritchard and Toby Olditch (known as the 'B52 Two') concluded with the jury returning a unanimous verdict of not-guilty in less than three hours [1] | [2]. The two were charged with 'conspiring to cause criminal damage' at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on 18 March 2003 when they tried to safely disable US B52 bombers to prevent them from bombing Iraq. The court heard the two men acted to prevent damage to life and property in Iraq, and war crimes by the aggressors. During the trial the prosecution accepted that even delaying the bombers would have prevented civilian casualties, as it would have allowed those fleeing cities more time to escape.

Links: B52 Two website | B52 Two trial blog | Wikipedia on B52 bombers

On the newswire: the B52 TWO - Bristol Crown Court | B52 two in Bristol Crown Court | US War Crimes in Iraq on Trial in Bristol Crown Court | B52 two face retrial after jury fails to reach verdict | B52 disarmers on trial this week | Now It's The Turn Of The 'B52 Two' To Face Trial | Trial of the 'B52 Two' Peace Activists begins in Bristol Crown Court, 2 October | Video - B52 Two Vigil at Gloucester Prison

Further coverage: Bristol Indymedia | Schnews on the B52 two victory

The B52 Two in front of Bristol Crown Court
The B52 Two in front of Bristol Crown Court


In his hour and a half summing up, Justice Crowther explained the legal tests that must be met for the prosecution to succeed, he reiterated the facts and summarised the evidence. A document 'steps to verdict' had been provided to assist the jury. Toby Olditch said "We're overjoyed, and thankful for the good sense of the jurors, for the wonderful support we've received, and for the commitment and expertise of our legal representatives. But hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people have still suffered as a result of the Government's actions. It shouldn't have come to the point that people had to take direct action to try to check the abuse of executive power." Phil Pritchard; "I am delighted that the jury have returned a unanimous not-guilty verdict. Our action in trying to prevent illegal attacks on the people of Iraq in 2003 is vindicated. I hope war of this kind never happens again."

imc-uk-features

Comments

Hide the following 3 comments

Two brave guys. Congrats on being set free.

28.05.2007 13:54

I think we need more bravee like this, lets hope more people will resist the next resource war. DONT ATTACK IRAN!

Joe

Joe

yes another blow for the good against da beast

05.06.2007 16:55

It really is great to see these verdicts in the court system, (OM SHANTI SHANTI!) rare as they are, but should be more so. Jurys can in reality do as they will, and don't have to kowtow to babylon perversion and blag law..so in reality it would be absolutely ESSENTIAL for any jury in this sort of case to consider the illegality of the Iraq war in the first place and send these perverted, hypocritical and total and complete evil scum a powerful message for sure...but I have to say its very sad to see the auto red star insultism of Uk Indymedia - might seem like nought to you, but to Tibetans for example, this is equivalent to highlighting paragraphs using nazi swastikas. Sort it out for fucks sake politico drongos.

Blessings

King Amdo

Justice .....

09.09.2007 16:35

will only be done when these people who constantly break the law in the name of some misguided good cause finally get locked up instead of aquitted by some left wing leaning jury. Lets face it, Joe Average, whether walking the street or sitting on a jury, has no idea of the potential threats against our country and our way of life. Every verdict like this one just weakens our country a little more.

Acton Ant Visit