Thursday 7 April 2005

Day 1 - Harrogate Magistrates' Court

Anni Rainbow and Lindis Percy were in court today for a hearing that had been set aside for a pre trial review.

There was a previous case which was heard, in which three defendants were sentenced for maintaining an illegal slaughter house and causing suffering to sheep in the slaughtering process. The court was 'standing room only', full of interested members of the public, taking a keen interest in the decision of District Judge Anderson and with press and TV (outside the court).

The three defendants were sent to prison for between 2 and 3 months with a ban of 5-10 years on keeping sheep and cows.

This case took up most of the morning and it was not until just after 12.15 pm that the hearing involving Anni and Lindis, started. There were no members of the public present. However a reporter from the Yorkshire Post stayed for a short while.

During the adjournment, an agreement had been reached between Robert Moore (Crown Prosecutor), Richard Reed, (Solicitor representing Anni and Lindis) Anni and Lindis, by which a suggested plan would be put to the District Judge as how to make some progress.

• Six cases would be heard to begin with. Two cases involving Anni and Lindis (who has 30 cases against her) would be heard together and then four other 'sample' cases re Lindis.
• The District Judge would be invited to visit the American base at Menwith Hill (where all these cases have arisen during the weekly Tuesday evening demonstration).
• The District Judge would be invited to view the CCTV video recordings of the six cases.

In court, the District Judge heard that there were 38-40 police witnesses ‘standing by’ to give evidence. District Judge Anderson agreed to the above suggestions and he, Robert Moore, Richard Reed, Anni and Lindis went straight to Menwith Hill for the site visit. The hearing was then adjourned until 12 md tomorrow (Friday, 8 April 2005) - the District Judge would view the CCTV videos before the start of the hearing.