Prisoner Support : Support the Highgate 4

www.alfsg.org.uk | 08.04.2009 08:53 | Animal Liberation

APRIL 3RD 2009 SAW TOM,LUKE AND DEAN TAKE A GUILTY PLEA TO 'INTERFERRING WITH CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS SO AS TO HARM AN ANIMAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION - SOCPA LEGISLATION

N THE 13TH OF OCTOBER 2008 FOUR ACTIVISTS WERE ARRESTED, DETAINED FOR 72 HOURS AND LATER CHARGED. THERE CHARGES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 'INTERFERING WITH CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS SO AS TO HARM AN ANIMAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION (SOCA 2005)', 'CONSPIRACY TO INTERFERE WITH CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS SO AS TO HARM AN ANIMAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION' AND 'CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT CRIMINAL DAMAGE'.
ALL FOUR WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REMANDED IN CUSTODY, A WEEK LATER IN LINCOLN CROWN COURT, LUKE AND DEAN WERE RE-REMANDED INTO CUSTODY.THEIR TWO CO-DEFENDANTS TOM AND VIKKI, WERE BOTH RELEASED ON CONDITIONAL BAIL.

THE TRIAL WILL PROCEED AGAINST VIKKI AND IS SET TO LAST JUST 5/6 DAYS-SHE STILL FACES ALL THREE CHARGES. FORTUNATELY,TOM NARROWLY AVOIDED REMAND TODAY ON THE BASIS OF HIS STUDIES AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON CONDITIONAL BAIL, WHILST DEAN AND LUKE ARE STILL ON REMAND. THEY WILL BE SENTENCED AFTER THE TRIAL.

LUKE STEELE (WJ4308)
WJ 4308,Glen Parva 10,Tigers Road,Wigston,Leicester,LE18 4TN

DEAN CAIN (WJ4309)
WJ 4309,Nottingham Prison,Perry Road,Sherwood,Nottingham,NG5 3AG

www.alfsg.org.uk
Homepage: http://www.myspace.com/supportthehighgatefour

Comments

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Video

08.04.2009 09:08

Liberation - video/x-ms-wmv 3.4M

Watch the vid - get the picture

Liberators
Homepage: http://www.shac.net/news/2008/january/9.html

don't post in all caps...

08.04.2009 09:38

...BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU SOUND LIKE A NUTCASE, EVEN IF YOUR CAUSE IS A VERY SENSIBLE AND HONOURABLE ONE

see what i mean?

tony

Highgate Four

08.04.2009 10:27

The four people in this caseare not accused of involvement in the original raid (the one in the video above), this is a separate case, which basically boils down to what would be civil trespass in any other circumstance, but because SOCPA makes any criminal OR TORTIOUS offence a crime, when related to a vivisection company.

These people are not accused of causing any damage, rescuing any rabbits, or even holding a protest, simply of being on the land of the rabbit breeder.

Alfred Freeman

How can you get jail time

08.04.2009 11:19

for trespass?

What on earth is happening here? The entire Kingsnorth camp was trespassing!

Qua?

Indeed

08.04.2009 12:15

As I said, SOCPA has made any civil offence a criminal offence when linked to (and only when linked to) a vivisection related company. This is one of the many attacks against the animal rights movement which seems to have been ignored by a lot of people who should be paying attention. There is also a clause which allows the home office to add, without parliamentary debate, at any point, any other group they like (so one day it may suddenly be illegal to trespass at an arms company, or even on farmers field, without anyone being able to do anything about it).

This is why many Animal Rights people have turned to direct action - because forms of campaigning which other campaigns can embrace, and utilise are unavailable to antivivisection campaigners. Home demos have been made illegal, office occupations (and indeed any other for of civil disobedience) are now serious criminal offences.

Alfred Freeman

I understand that..

08.04.2009 12:20

this is the first time a civil tort ie trespass is being used in a SOCPA case. This is being used solely against animal rights activists now but the Secretary of state can apply SOCPA including any civil tort to any protest. Vikki is showing immense courage in fighting this disgusting piece of oppressive legislation. The outcome of her trial will impact on all protestors.

Lynn Sawyer

You thought wrong

09.04.2009 21:42

Once again, it's not.

Ronald

who and what are you replying to Ronald?

10.04.2009 09:21

Ronald said: "You thought wrong. Once again, it's not."

But it's not clear who he is replying to, or to what point. We aren't mind readers (well, not all of us)!

anon