barbara tonight is free again after being threatened with jail for breach of draconian bail conditions for doing no more than wandering around near the seat of power with her distinctive pink banner portraying the genocide being committed by us and uk troops.
this is an update to the story at 
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/01/361062.html
barbara was held overnight at charing cross police station. no-one was allowed to visit her and she was taken by police to westminster court early this morning. finally after 18 hours in detention, she appeared infront of judge snow at around 3pm.
police wanted her remanded to holloway prison until trial (set for the month of may - five months imprisonment for peaceful protest!!).
solicitor laura higgs from bindmans argued with judge snow on several counts - first, that the summonses bailed were related to offences in august last year, but that a similar case heard inseptember had already been thrown out of court as 'void ab initio'. secondly, that imprisonment was completely disproportionate in terms of the human rights convention, and thirdly, that she was acting lawfully anyway (having notified the commissioner of her protest back in march).
for a while it seemed as though judge snow was still ready to send barbara to jail, but then brian haw piped up. his points were that barbara had never missed a court or police station appearance, had complied fully with all legal requirements, presented no threat, and so didn't need to be bailed at all. also that since the police claim that her notification was unlawful had never been tested in court, the whole proceeding was an abuse of process. brian wouldn't stop, and judge snow made a swift exit while the court was cleared. after a while, the judge returned to court, and announced that he had considered the issue of the summons dates, and would now be offering unconditional bail until a february pre-trial review (he stated 12th, but it is thought her next appointment is 22nd). however, it seems all the police have to do is issue summons relating to alleged socpa offences after september last year (of which there are plenty) and judge snow may yet again impose conditions preventing barbara from demonstrating against blair's genocide. so her freedom and today's victory may be short-lived.
judge snow also issued a stern warning that if brian haw ever interrupted his court again, he would be imprisoned for contempt of court.
further details soon.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/01/361062.html barbara was held overnight at charing cross police station. no-one was allowed to visit her and she was taken by police to westminster court early this morning. finally after 18 hours in detention, she appeared infront of judge snow at around 3pm.
police wanted her remanded to holloway prison until trial (set for the month of may - five months imprisonment for peaceful protest!!).
solicitor laura higgs from bindmans argued with judge snow on several counts - first, that the summonses bailed were related to offences in august last year, but that a similar case heard inseptember had already been thrown out of court as 'void ab initio'. secondly, that imprisonment was completely disproportionate in terms of the human rights convention, and thirdly, that she was acting lawfully anyway (having notified the commissioner of her protest back in march).
for a while it seemed as though judge snow was still ready to send barbara to jail, but then brian haw piped up. his points were that barbara had never missed a court or police station appearance, had complied fully with all legal requirements, presented no threat, and so didn't need to be bailed at all. also that since the police claim that her notification was unlawful had never been tested in court, the whole proceeding was an abuse of process. brian wouldn't stop, and judge snow made a swift exit while the court was cleared. after a while, the judge returned to court, and announced that he had considered the issue of the summons dates, and would now be offering unconditional bail until a february pre-trial review (he stated 12th, but it is thought her next appointment is 22nd). however, it seems all the police have to do is issue summons relating to alleged socpa offences after september last year (of which there are plenty) and judge snow may yet again impose conditions preventing barbara from demonstrating against blair's genocide. so her freedom and today's victory may be short-lived.
judge snow also issued a stern warning that if brian haw ever interrupted his court again, he would be imprisoned for contempt of court.
further details soon.
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Twas not us
31.01.2007 00:57
Dibble
Jail a 'nonse' or Barbara Tucker?
31.01.2007 11:35
This government of madmen and lunatics is insane, by nature.
Will someone please arrest Tony for the war criminal that he is? And give him a drug test for cocaine while he is being sectioned under the mental health act?
Will the Charing Cross Met start protecting the peaceful people instead of behaving like prancing poodles for Tony and his cronies?
Has England lost sight of her responsibilities to her children and those of other nations that we intentionally place in harms way?
When will the madness end?
Charity XXX
Charity Sweet
e-mail:
charitysweet@hotmail.co.uk