CAAB

Wednesday 23 March 2005

There was to have been a pre trial review before District Judge Anderson today at Harrogate Magistrates' Court. He had been specifically appointed to preside at this hearing and at the trial of Anni and Lindis . Had the hearing gone ahead, District Judge Anderson would have heard that before him were 30 cases (Anni has 2 cases - Lindis now has 28 cases - after another arrest and charge last night). Legal arguements were to be canvassed and Mr Anderson would then have ruled and made a decision as to the next step forward.

However Richard Reed (Solicitor representing Lindis and Anni) was not able to get to Harrogate Magistrates' Court today until 2 p.m. This was because two cases he was involved with were suddenly listed in York Crown Court today (Crown Court cases take president over cases in the Magistrates' Court).

Lindis and Anni were told by Mr Anderson at 12 md (having waited since 10 am) that the case would be adjourned until 7 April 2005 for a pre trial review and then the trial would start (court time has been set aside from 7 - 14 April 2005). Mr Anderson said that he had a busy afternoon in court - the implication was that he would not be able to wait for Richard Reed to arrive.

There have now been five pre trial reviews and the cases go on mounting up. The first arrest and charge was on 18 May last year. All the cases arise out of the Tuesday night demonstration (6-8 pm) at the American base at Menwith Hill.

A message from CAAB

We are emerging from the dark, cold, wet, snowy Winter. Spring is here and the demonstration now starts off in the light (6 - 8 pm) - Nidderdale looks wonderful - the light hours will get longer after the clocks go foreward this weekend - so do come! It's such a small thing that we do in the face of such devastation and mindless thinking of those who make major decisions about our lives round the world.

We protest to the people who work on this base - which has several significant roles in the American military industrial complex - especially in the American Missile Defense System.

Please refer to the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) website: www.caab.org.uk for the aims and objectives of CAAB and just a taste of what we have been doing over the years and continue to do....

Anni Rainbow and Lindis Percy

Joint Co-ordinators

CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES (CAAB)

8 Park Row, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 1HQ, England, U.K.
Tel/fax no: +44 (0)1943 466405 0R +44 (0)1482 702033

email: anniandlindis@caab.org.uk or caab@btclick.com

Website: http://www.caabuk.plus.com

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever does." Margaret Mead