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Prisoners & Those Arrested

A Body | 03.04.2009 13:49

What's happening to those arrested and being held on remand?

The mainstream press are reporting that a handful of people have been arrested and charged in relation to offences relating to the RBS building.

According to this report:
 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7980709.stm

a 17 year old girl has already pled guilty to burglary and criminal damage. Another guy is on remand charged with arson and recklessly endangering life! Several others have been charged with burglary, criminal damage and theft of a computer.

Is there support in place for these people? Are they getting good legal advice? Was this thought of as part of the planning for the demo?

Just wondering, because i haven't seen anything on indymedia about those arrested.

A Body

Additions

post-arrest support

03.04.2009 16:30

> Is there support in place for these people? Are they getting good legal advice?

LDMG, who had legal observers out on the 1st and 2nd, have organised a defendents' meeting, Tuesday 7th 7pm, Freedom Bookshop Whitechapel. This is for those arrested only, witnesses should contact us by email or post, see website for more details.

Miranda Ching, the solicitor mentioned in the BBC article is from Hodge Jones & Allen, the firm we listed on the bustcards given out at the demo.

LDMG
- Homepage: http://www.ldmg.org.uk/

Comments

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agreed

03.04.2009 14:07

Would be good to know if they need any support. Charges against them are ridiculous. Burglary for fucks sake!

anon

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Ordinary language vs legal language

03.04.2009 14:44

"Burglary for f*ucks sake!"

In ordinary English "burglary" means breaking in for the purpose of stealing something and generally restricted to "thieving" (persons no present) as opposed to "robbery" (from persons).

If however you take a look at the codes of law you will probably discover that "burglary" has the technical meaning "breaking in to commit ANY felony" (and the defense against the charge either "didn't break in" OR "had no intent to and did not (even accidentaly) commit a felony" --- thus breaking into a building to have place to kip for the night not "burgary" as the tresspass offense not a "felony").

I believe the confusion is mainly because "for the purpose of stealing" so commonly the particualr felony and also because in cases of very serious felonies like murder or "armed robbery" they don't bother with the minor burgarly charge -- but if you broke into a place and then killed somebody there or robbed people there at gunpoint you WOULD be guilty of burglary.

If the felony charge fails, the burglary charge should fail also. But note that conviction on the burglary charge does not require SUCCESSFUL committing of the felony. It is the reason that "burglary" charges are often brought (the prosecution will argue that it was the INTENT of the burgler to commit a felony there -- all that a successful burglery prosecution requires, "for the PURPOSE of").

Mike Novack

details from the Daily Fascist (I mean Mail)

03.04.2009 14:46

from the name it sounds like one of the arrested guys is Latvian or from that neck of the woods:

these people should be supported 100%

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1166349/Riot-police-storm-G20-protesters-squats---violence-spreads-France.html

Four people were charged with various offences including endangering life and burglary.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a 21-year-old man was charged with arson recklessly endangering life over the damage at the RBS branch in central London.

Mindaugas Lenartavicius will appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court today.

Two 18-year-old men, Daniel Champion and Ben Shiells, will also appear at the same court charged with burglary, criminal damage and theft of a computer.

A 17-year-old girl was also charged with burglary with intent to commit damage over the incident and will appear at West London Youth Court today.

anon

solidarity urgent

03.04.2009 15:26

the people arrested need help and lods lods lods of solidarity ...if people know lawers, any kind of help is necessary ..sound systems , gigs, partys ..whatever lets help our comrades ..isnt fun be in prison ......lets make it happen ....send info a.s.a.p ... one of many @

anon

Whither...

03.04.2009 15:28

Whither the Revolution? A drunk teenager...

Freddy Shreddy

drunk teenager

03.04.2009 16:27

She may have been a drunk teenager, according to press reports, but that doesn't mean she should be left high and dry without good legal advice and support. If we are to organise large demos and encourage as many people as possible to come along and get involved, that will also include "drunk teenagers". It will also include people unprepared for police violence and possibly unaware of the full consequences of all those cameras, along with people carried along with the moment. I've been a drunk teenager many moons ago, as i'm sure many others have. Lets not leave them high and dry, as canon fodder for those too sober and/or experienced to know better.

A Body

Thanks

03.04.2009 16:41

Thanks LDMG, that's good to know.

A Body

Donations?

03.04.2009 17:23

For those of us too far away to get to the defence meeting, is there anywhere to send a few quid for expenses/fighting fund?

notinlondon

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no chance

03.04.2009 20:34

taxpayers get forced to bail out and become the owners of a bankrupt bank, then these louts come along and start smashing it up costing us even more. I'm sure it wont come out of their pocket money. Sorry, but no sympathy here. And what the heck is a Latvian coming over here for and attacking our country's property? as if we don't have enough problems without jolly foriegner taking his lions share too

fed up of paying other people's whims

remember previous cases

03.04.2009 23:19

in past cases for expenses have been turned down because of indys reports of "donations" for the legal stuff.
if you want to loan or lend them a quid or to, thats a different matter.

don't let the bastards hold anything back.

historian

17 year old girl is released on bail

04.04.2009 00:04

The 17 year old girl has been released on bail after pleading guilty at the west london youth court. Defendants in the youth court are not allowed to be identified. She appreciates that. She was released to the address of friends who are supporting her. She had suffered injuries at the hands of the police, including a cut face.
The girl pleaded guilty to burglary and criminal damage. She is due to be sentenced in three weeks time. Members of the press were allowed into court. A scum of about 8 paparazzi followed her out of court photographing her even though they are not allowed to publish the photos. A man, who had been released from the magistrates court next door to the youth court on an unrelated matter, challenged the press on their behaviour and called the girl a g20 hero.
The girl has been banned from entering the area within the M25 except to attend court. She is staying with friends in another town.

A friend

support

@ldmg

04.04.2009 01:15


>> Is there support in place for these people? Are they getting good legal advice?
>
>LDMG, who had legal observers out on the 1st and 2nd, have organised a defendents' meeting, Tuesday 7th 7pm, >Freedom Bookshop Whitechapel. This is for those arrested only, witnesses should contact us by email or post, >see website for more details.
>
>Miranda Ching, the solicitor mentioned in the BBC article is from Hodge Jones & Allen, the firm we listed on the >bustcards given out at the demo.

All very good, but support is being left to friends. There was nobody from any support group at the youth court today. Three friends of the 17 year old girl (not named cos that'd be illegal) were at the court. There were about a dozen journos and photographers. Four of the press were allowed in the courtroom, while only one of the girl's friends was allowed in. The other two had to wait in the foyer.

If you know any of the accused you better get to court because you might be their only support.

a friend

support

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This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

go to court

04.04.2009 01:35

>> Is there support in place for these people? Are they getting good legal advice?
>
>LDMG, who had legal observers out on the 1st and 2nd, have organised a defendents' meeting, Tuesday 7th 7pm, >Freedom Bookshop Whitechapel. This is for those arrested only, witnesses should contact us by email or post, >see website for more details.
>
>Miranda Ching, the solicitor mentioned in the BBC article is from Hodge Jones & Allen, the firm we listed on the >bustcards given out at the demo.

All very good, but support is being left to friends. There was nobody from any support group at the youth court today. Three friends of the 17 year old girl (not named cos that'd be illegal) were at the court. There were about a dozen journos and photographers. Four of the press were allowed in the courtroom, while only one of the girl's friends was allowed in. The other two had to wait in the foyer.

If you know any of the accused you better get to court because you might be their only support.

a friend

support

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