Pictures from Sequani March & Blockade

As a close friend of a friend of a friend who is a friend of a current Sequani (12) defendant I'm really pleased a brand new campaign is beggining against the vivisectors Sequani limited in Herefordshire.

Good luck in all you do!

Free the Sequani 12!!!!

VX x X x XV



From  http://www.animalliberation.co.uk

SEQUANI 12 COURT CASE UPDATE
03 September 2007
(Sorry for the delay in publishing the report)

At 7.00am on Tuesday May 9th 2006 12 activists involved in the peaceful campaign against Sequani limited (an animal testing lab in Herefordshire) had their homes raided and extensively searched by West Mercia Police.

The raids were coordinated at the same hour of the day throughout the Midlands.

The operation against activists was called ‘Operation Tornado’ and involved more than 120 police officers.

Such was the force of the raids some activists had the front doors of their homes completely smashed off their hinges.

Activists spent between 10 and 16 hours in police custody. One other activist subsequently handed themselves in to police who was then arrested and charged.

All 12 are charged under section 145 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police act 2005 with ‘interference with contractual and similar relationships with the intention of harming an animal research organisation’.

A further two activists from the campaign were later charged with the same offence but both had the charges against them dropped by West Mercia police shortly after.

All charged have been on (unconditional) police bail since May 9th 2006.

At Birmingham crown court Mon 3rd Sept 07, 12 anti-Sequani defendants were officially split into 2 groups.

A group of seven are charged with "conspiracy to interfere with an animal research organisation" (sec.145 Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005) while the remaining group of five are charged with alleged 'substantive' (individual) offences under sec.145 socpa, all 12 made pleas of 'not guilty' in court.

The two groups of defendants will be tried on seperate dates and will not appear as a group again at the same court hearing in the future.

The alleged "conspirators" appear again at B'ham crown on Oct 12th 07 and their trial officially begins before a jury at B'ham crown on Jan 7th 08.

If the initial 7 are convicted with alleged "conspiracy" the remaining 5 would face trial in or around Spring 08.

The "conspirators" trial is likely to last 8 - 10 weeks.