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Press Release: 1st UK Legal Challenge To War On Iraq ~ (post-war)

Bristol-Stop-The-War | 12.06.2003 03:01 | Oxford

PRESS RELEASE :
1st UK Legal Challenge To War On Iraq ~ (post-war)

Gloucester Crown Court : Friday 20th June @10:00am.
A Great Photo Opportunity To See All The Defendants Together.

BRISTOL-STOP-THE-WAR Communications
 bristol-stop-the-war-coalition-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


For Immediate Release.

LEGAL CONTACTS :
Contacts have been withheld, as this version is for general release, but if you wish to be sent contact details, please send a reply to  inzideztory@yahoogroups.co.uk


***********************
The 10 Defendants in the cases below will plead 'lawful excuse' for doing, or attempting, criminal damage at RAF/USAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, UK, in the lead up to and during the bombing of Iraq, on the grounds that war on Iraq was illegal making their actions, or attempted actions, legal.

RAF/USAF Fairford was used as a forward bomber base for the duration of the recent air war against Iraq. The defendants are charged with doing, or attempting criminal damage to a
perimeter gate of RAF/USAF Fairford, or the B52 Bombers & vehicles within it.

Before any of these cases can proceed, the judge at Gloucester Crown Court has recognised the need for a pronouncement on the legality or illegality of the war. This is the first time a UK court will have to make a ruling as to whether the war was legal or illegal.

The judge at Gloucester Crown Court has ordered all Fairford Defendants to come to Gloucester Crown Court on June 20th at 10:00am, so that he can sort out the order in which the cases are to be heard. It all promises to get ever more interesting....

THE DEFENDANTS ARE : Josh Richards (charged with going equipped to cause criminal damage) ~ Phil Pritchard and Toby Olditch (charged with conspiracy and going equipped to cause criminal damage) ~ Paul Milling and Margaret Jones
(charged with conspiracy and criminal damage) ~ Kate Holcolme, Geoffrey Cornock and 3 other people (charged with criminal damage to a perimeter gate).
**********************.

NOTES TO THE READER:

Plea and Directions Hearing. Please Come Along and Show Support.
Date: Friday 20th June. Time: 10:00am. Place: Gloucester Crown Court.
Kimbrose Way (On the A430 off the A38. On the junction of Commercial Rd & Southgate St).
DIRECTIONS: CLICK BELOW
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=383000&Y=218500&scale=10000

On 3rd and 4th March 2003, fourteen B52 bombers from USAF 23rd Bomb Squadron 'Barons' arrived at RAF/USAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK, to prepare for the aerial bombing of Iraq, which began on the 20th March 2003. On April 24th 2003, after 142 flights and 54 days, they left.

Fairford is in the Cotswolds, UK. RAF/USAF Fairford is one of only 3 forward bases (outside the US) for B2 Stealth bombers. The others are in Guam and Diego Garcia. In tests the B2 has released B61 and B83 mini-nuclear weapons, the first of a new generation.

Bristol-Stop-The-War
- Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristol-stop-the-war-coalition

Comments

Hide the following 3 comments

La La Land

12.06.2003 08:43

The damage sustained by this GATE - pales to insignificance compared to the damage in Iraq.

Are there any gates left in Baghdad, do people have arms to open them?

Beavis


And sign the Blair war criminal petition...

12.06.2003 09:35

And sign the Blair war criminal petition...
And sign the Blair war criminal petition...

 http://www.petitiononline.com/iraqwmd/petition.html
To: International Criminal Court
This is the peoples chance to show the New Labour Government what Democracy really means.
We the undersigned, want Prime Minister Tony Blair extradited to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to face serious war crimes charges related to the recent 'Operation Iraqi Freedom'. The Prime Minister sent British Troops to Iraq under the assertion that Iraq posessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, he did this knowingly and wilfully despite 60% of the U.K. population being against this war and also knowing that forces would be deploying cancer causing depleted uranium shells as well as crippling cluster bombs.
Thus far, no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq. To go to war under false pretences is against the Geneva Convention, not to mention all the innocent victims of this attack on the sovereign nation of Iraq.

Our parliamentarians whom we elected, seem to be unable or unwilling to bring Prime Minister Blair to account for his grave misdemeanours, so it's up to you the people to send a strong message to the world, we will not tolerate a war criminal as the leader of our country.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned




View Current Signatures

VS


Other Fairford Defendants

12.06.2003 11:32

Other Fairford defendants who will directly be affected by the outcome of the June 20th Decision at Gloucester are Joss Garman and Sam Grafton - who were both charged with Criminal Damage, Aggravated Trespass and Going equipped to commit further criminal damage, after they were arrested near the runway inside Fairford base on March 26th. More info see: www.tridentploughshares.org

The war will be on trial again later this month, when on June 30th, Renowned danish peace activist Ulla Roder, will appear in court charged with smashing up a Torando jet bound for the gulf doing millions of damage. If found guilty she could face 15 years! See www.free-ulla.org to see how you can support Ulla and for more info on the free ulla campaign!

On June 24th, Pit stop Ploughshares activists including Faslane Peace Camper Karen Fallon will be on trial in Ireland after they smashed up a US Navy Plane at Shannon Airport and started damaging the runway...see www.ploughsharesireland.org

In peace and solidarity...

Joss
- Homepage: www.tridentploughshares.org


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