A peace protester who admitted punching a police officer at the Smash EDO Carnival Against the Arms Trade on June 4 2008 was found not guilty of assault today on grounds that he acted in self defence, after the court found police had used unlawful and excessive force by beating him with batons at the protest.

Brighton Magistrates Court found Chris Bluemel, a music teacher from Southampton, not guilty of two alternative charges of Assault on Police and Common Assault, after he admitted he had struck back at one of the officers who had beaten him.

In their verdict three magistrates said that the evidence of PC Dugan, who received a punch in the face after beating Mr Bluemel to the ground, had been 'vague and contradictory' in its description of the timing of events, while in contrast Mr Bluemel was clearly a man of good character who had been 'credible and consistent' about what had happened.

Commenting on policing of events that saw hundreds of protesters enter the car park of Brighton arms firm EDO MBM, the magistrates said that although the actions of police had been lawful to begin with it had descended into unlawful and excessive force in the last moments when protesters where being driven from the car park with batons and police dogs. There was no evidence of any violence used against the police by the protesters. In the circumstances Mr Bluemel had been reasonable in fighting back against the police attack who were clearly 'not acting in the execution of their duty'.

Mr Bluemel suffered extensive bruising to his left arm and back at the protest after repeated beatings.

During the case numerous character witnesses attested to Mr Bluemel’s commitment to peace and justice, and hatred of violence. They included his
employer, the Principal of the college in Southampton where he
works, who described him as 'very gentle and patient’. The Principal had chosen to come and support Chris in court today, and had left his deputy to
deal with a meeting with the shadow Minister of Education in Southampton instead.

Chloe Marsh, for Smash EDO said

’If anyone has been in any doubt that Sussex Police have used unlawful violence against peaceful protesters in this campaign then this verdict proves beyond a doubt the reality of what we have had to put up with over the last five years.’

‘Chris was brave enough to fight back, and was justified in doing so. The police should take a long hard look at their behaviour in the future to stop such events happening again. We are not intimidated by police violence. We will continue to protest against this factory which makes arms
that are used to destroy the lives of countless innocents around the world'

Chris Bluemel himself said:

'This marks the end of an extremely difficult year, which began with a police raid on my house, in which a huge amount of computer equipment and campaign materials was seized, and ended with a trial on ludicrous charges. The police have so far refused to apologise for the disruption and stress they have caused to my life, including the fear of losing my job had I been convicted.'


For more info contact Chloe Marsh or Andrew Beckett on 07754135290

Or to talk to Chris Bluemel directly 07855 351998

E-mail:  smashedopress@riseup.net

Notes for Journalists

The Company

From their base in Moulescoombe Brighton, EDO MBM/ITT, a unit of ITT corporation, manufacture vital parts for the Hellfire and Paveway weapons systems, laser guided missiles used extensively in Iraq, Lebanon,
Palestine
and Somalia. EDO Corp. were recently acquired by ITT in a multi-billion pound deal. ITT's links to fascism go back to the 1930s. The founder Sosthenes Behn was the first foreign businessman received by Hitler after his seizure of power.

The Campaign

There has been active campaign against the presence of EDO MBM in Brighton since the outbreak of the Iraq war. Campaigners include students, Quakers, Palestine solidarity activists, anti-capitalists and academics. Despite an injunction under the protection of harassment act (which failed) and over forty arrests the campaign is still going strong. Their avowed aim is to expose EDO MBM and their complicity in war crimes and to remove them from Brighton. They hold regular weekly demonstrations outside the Moulescoombe factory
on Wednesday's between 4 and 6.

THE FILM

On the Verge is an independent film about the SMASH EDO Campaign “In 2004 a group of Brighton peace campaigners began to bang pot and pans outside their local arms manufacturers EDO MBM in disgust of their part in the Iraq war. This has grown into the Smash EDO campaign, which has cost the company millions, been the subject of large scale police operations and has tested the right to protest in the UK. Using activist, police and CCTV footage plus interviews with those involved in the campaign, 'On The Verge' tells the story of one of the most persistent and imaginative