Victory for Iraq Procurement Protestors, case closed as Prosecution runs scared
Devlish May | 23.11.2004 14:49 | London | World
The Iraq Procurement conference protestors Pennie Quinton and Ewa Jasiewicz are fully aqquited from all charges as the prosecution refuses to submit evidence in dramtic climb down, case is closed.
Corporate Plunderers Windrush back off from giving evidence in Iraqi Procurement case.
In what is believed to be a politically motivated decision, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges of ‘Aggravated Trespass’ against two female protesters who demonstrated inside an Iraq privatisation conference last April.
The Crown stated that ‘there is not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction’.
Ewa and Pennie had been charged with intending to disrupt a “lawful activity” when they entered the Iraq Procurement Conference, unfurled banners, and addressed the delegates as collaborators in the daily massacres in Iraq. Their actions caused the conference venue to be evacuated and all activity to be suspended.
Pennie and Ewa were claiming their right to trial under Section 23 of the Prosecution of Offenses Act 1985. This mean't they were in effect, taking the government and conference organisers Windrush Communications to court. Prosecution witnesses from Windrush refused to attend the trial and have failed to disclose evidence, in violation of repeated court orders, to reveal invitations, attendees, order of business and contracts procured, relating to the event.
Today at Highbury Corner Magistrates court the prosecution refused to give evidence and the defendents were fully aqquited with the magistrate agreeing to award the defence costs.
Ewa and Pennie regard the prosecution’s climb-down as a victory and a total vindication of the validity and necessity of their actions and legal argument.
They state: ‘The decision undertaken by Windrush Communications to back down when faced with the legal consequences of their actions - in our belief, aiding and abetting pillage in Iraq in contravention of international law - is an open door to other activists to take further action to expose the ‘unlawful’ activity of companies and event organisers like Windrush’.
Naomi Klein, award-winning journalist and author of No Logo, had been scheduled to give evidence at the trial. She will take part in a press conference alongside the defendants and their lawyer at The National Union of Journalists, 308 Grays Inn Road, WC1, 4pm this Tuesday 24th November.
In what is believed to be a politically motivated decision, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges of ‘Aggravated Trespass’ against two female protesters who demonstrated inside an Iraq privatisation conference last April.
The Crown stated that ‘there is not enough evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction’.
Ewa and Pennie had been charged with intending to disrupt a “lawful activity” when they entered the Iraq Procurement Conference, unfurled banners, and addressed the delegates as collaborators in the daily massacres in Iraq. Their actions caused the conference venue to be evacuated and all activity to be suspended.
Pennie and Ewa were claiming their right to trial under Section 23 of the Prosecution of Offenses Act 1985. This mean't they were in effect, taking the government and conference organisers Windrush Communications to court. Prosecution witnesses from Windrush refused to attend the trial and have failed to disclose evidence, in violation of repeated court orders, to reveal invitations, attendees, order of business and contracts procured, relating to the event.
Today at Highbury Corner Magistrates court the prosecution refused to give evidence and the defendents were fully aqquited with the magistrate agreeing to award the defence costs.
Ewa and Pennie regard the prosecution’s climb-down as a victory and a total vindication of the validity and necessity of their actions and legal argument.
They state: ‘The decision undertaken by Windrush Communications to back down when faced with the legal consequences of their actions - in our belief, aiding and abetting pillage in Iraq in contravention of international law - is an open door to other activists to take further action to expose the ‘unlawful’ activity of companies and event organisers like Windrush’.
Naomi Klein, award-winning journalist and author of No Logo, had been scheduled to give evidence at the trial. She will take part in a press conference alongside the defendants and their lawyer at The National Union of Journalists, 308 Grays Inn Road, WC1, 4pm this Tuesday 24th November.
Devlish May
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