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Police Frame James Thorne: Trial this week

James Thorne | 26.01.2004 16:32 | Anti-militarism | Repression

Your Manchester comrade James Thorne is being tried on a trumped up assault charge after police violently dispersed a peaceful protest last June. All support on 29/30 January at Manc Magistrates Court warmly appreciated.

Dear Friends,

I am on trial on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th January, at Manchester Magistrates Court, starts 10am.

This trial arises from an incident on June 7th 2003, when I happened to be a bystander at an impromptu protest in Albert Square, Manchester. Police moved in to rough up half a dozen men and women who had raised a banner stating ‘Another World is Possible’, in a public place where a military band was playing. I was also pushed over from behind, and handcuffed on the floor.

Having kept me in the cells for five hours, and failed to contact a solicitor despite my request, they bailed me to return the next day. When I did so, they charged me with assaulting a police officer, falsely alleging that I had punched and kicked one PC Hanvy, of the GMP. Six cops have signed made up statements describing this fictional attack.

Although this ludicrous incident doubtless had its comic side, it is also sadly a reminder of the often unacceptable behaviour of the Manchester Police. Moreover, along with the resultant prosecution, it represents yet another attack on freedom of speech and expression on OUR streets. Theoretically, assaulting a PC carries a six-month sentence.

If anyone can attend court in anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist solidarity, it would be so good to see you.

James


[If any further witnesses have any information about this incident whatsoever, please contact Peter Malone at Lizar’s solicitors (0161 227 7777)]

James Thorne
- e-mail: squatticus@hotmail.com

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Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

Very Best wishes James

26.01.2004 18:16

I wish you the very best of luck in the court case, James, and hope you manage to expose these moronic thugs. It seems that there is also a “culture of impunity” within the Manchester police force and not just the Israeli Defence force as Jocelyn Hurndall puts it. It is time to end this culture.

By the way, have you ever read John Stalker’s book about his experiences in the Manchester police? He was deputy chief constable of Manchester police about 20 years ago. It is about how he was framed by the Establishment when he was called into investigate the RUC/SAS “shoot to kill” policy in northern Ireland. He was a catholic and took the job more seriously than he was supposed to. He was set-up and framed. Essential reading.

Chris Edwards


How to get John Stalker's book

26.01.2004 18:31

The original book by Stalker was entitled simply "Stalker" and may be out of print--though it can be obtained via this superb global second-hand book web-site (also at Amazon).

 http://www.abebooks.co.uk/

There is a subsequent book by Stalker which is more up to date called: "The Stalker Affair: The Shocking True Story of Six Deaths and a Notorious Cover-Up". It can be bought at:

 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0670822620/qid=1075140822/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-4198598-9415212?v=glance&s=books

Hey, why don't you walk into court on Thursday ostentatiously carrying a copy of this book?!!!

Chris Edwards


Are we in the 80's again?

27.01.2004 02:57

Just recieved the e mail about what happened and to me it sucks. I hope you have requested the CTTV fotage of the event as it is bound to exist and if you don't have it it is your legal right to obtain it as it contains your image or something like that.
To me this jsut seems like we only appear to go backwards in time and never forward like a liberal society should do.

Fingers crossed

james Kemp

James Kemp
mail e-mail: james_kempy@hotmail.com


Solidarity with James Thorne

27.01.2004 16:12

Good luck James. Hopefully the outcome will be the right one, but the courts can be just as vindictive as the police, dishing out sentences where the police dish out out truncheon blows. So, if they do succeed in pushing through this shameless frame-up just remember that solidarity from all your friends and comrades will continue and indeed grow. Finally, not only were the Manchester police up to their neck in the character assassination of Stalker - twenty years ago they were up to their brutal tricks against thousands of British miners who fought a year long strike against pit closures. And for as long as they go on treating us in this way we will go on resisting them, just as the miners did. Good luck once again.

Mark Hoskisson


Solidarity with James Thorne

27.01.2004 18:57

Well done, James. We should have maximum solidarity with you and let's help build that world where the police aren't just the hired lackeys of an increasingly desperate class, when we put our class in power. Let's hope that the increasingly discredited racist GMP are exposed once again for wrongful arrest and malicious prosecution.

Jason Travis


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