A legal observer convicted in February of obstructing a police officer in the course of a stop and search outside Downing Street will have his appeal heard at Southwark Crown Court in London on Thursday (7 August). The incident occurred during a peaceful vigil and blockade of Downing Street in memory of victims of the arms trade held last September, while arms dealers and other war criminals gathered in east London for an international arms fair.
At his trial in February at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, Daniel Viesnik, 33, from north London was accused of obstructing a police officer and obstructing the highway. He was cleared of the latter charge but found guilty of the former and handed a conditional discharge by District Judge Roscoe.
The incident, which involved an alleged attempt to conceal a digital camera memory card, took place when Mr Viesnik was being searched under section 44 of the Terrorism Act, a power often inappropriately used against peaceful protesters. The court in the original trial heard how the defendant had been photographing Ms Irene Willis's silent lone vigil for the victims of the arms trade outside the gates of Downing Street in Whitehall last September, during the Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi) arms fair, sponsored by the UK Ministry of Defence, which is held every two years at the ExCel centre in London’s Docklands
http://www.dsei.co.uk/ .
Mr Viesnik is determined to take a stand against police repression:
"Police harassment, intimidation and violence against activists, their supporters, civilian witnesses and journalists, both independent and mainstream, reporting on contentious political activities continues unabated, with abuse of anti-terrorism and public order powers commonplace. Clearly the need to defend our civil liberties is greater than ever, and it is up to people like me to do it through action and not simply words."
The appeal hearing is due to begin on Thursday 7 August, at 10am. Mr Viesnik will be represented by Ms Felicity Williams of Doughty Street Chambers, briefed by Bindmans (funded by legal aid). Support and media presence at court is welcome. The court is located very close to Tower Bridge and City Hall. The address is:
Southwark Crown Court
1 English Grounds
(off Battlebridge Lane)
Southwark
London
SE1 2HU
(Nearest tube: London Bridge or Tower Hill)
Report on the original action: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/381114.html
Report on Irene's trial, where the charge against her was dismissed: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/12/387326.html
The incident, which involved an alleged attempt to conceal a digital camera memory card, took place when Mr Viesnik was being searched under section 44 of the Terrorism Act, a power often inappropriately used against peaceful protesters. The court in the original trial heard how the defendant had been photographing Ms Irene Willis's silent lone vigil for the victims of the arms trade outside the gates of Downing Street in Whitehall last September, during the Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi) arms fair, sponsored by the UK Ministry of Defence, which is held every two years at the ExCel centre in London’s Docklands
http://www.dsei.co.uk/ . Mr Viesnik is determined to take a stand against police repression:
"Police harassment, intimidation and violence against activists, their supporters, civilian witnesses and journalists, both independent and mainstream, reporting on contentious political activities continues unabated, with abuse of anti-terrorism and public order powers commonplace. Clearly the need to defend our civil liberties is greater than ever, and it is up to people like me to do it through action and not simply words."
The appeal hearing is due to begin on Thursday 7 August, at 10am. Mr Viesnik will be represented by Ms Felicity Williams of Doughty Street Chambers, briefed by Bindmans (funded by legal aid). Support and media presence at court is welcome. The court is located very close to Tower Bridge and City Hall. The address is:
Southwark Crown Court
1 English Grounds
(off Battlebridge Lane)
Southwark
London
SE1 2HU
(Nearest tube: London Bridge or Tower Hill)
Report on the original action:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/09/381114.html Report on Irene's trial, where the charge against her was dismissed:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/12/387326.html 
e-mail:
