Tuesday 12 April 2005

Harrogate Magistrates' Court - DAY 4

 

In the morning, the court heard two more cases which had been brought by the Crown Prosecution Service against Lindis Percy.  This concluded the CPS cases (two cases involving Anni and Lindis and four 'sample' cases out of 30 against Lindis).

 

Anni then gave evidence in two cases against her, followed by Lindis giving her evidence. 

 

At the end of the case, when the question of bail arose, Robert Moore (Crown Prosecutor) reminded District Judge Anderson that bail conditions had been imposed on Lindis (7.5 metres of the perimeter of NSA Menwith Hill).  The District Judge seemed to realise that it was Tuesday and therefore there would be the weekly CAAB demonstration tonight at Menwith Hill.  Roy Anderson made no change to the bail conditions.

 

Thank you so much to Ffriends who once again supported Lindis and Anni in court.

 

Weekly CAAB demonstration at Menwith Hill (6 - 8 pm)

 

Anni and Lindis were present.  Ministry of Defence Police Agency (MDPA) officers from the Divisional Support Group (DSG - York) supported officers at Menwith Hill to 'police' the demonstration.

 

We had been in Harrogate Magistrates' Court all day for the fourth day of the trial.  We had watched several videos of the CAAB demonstration and heard evidence from numerous MDPA officers who had, arrested and charged Anni (twice) and Lindis (over 30 times) for alleged offences such as 'obstruction of highway', 'aggravated trespass' and obstruction of a police officer in the execution of his/her duty'. 

 

However at the demonstration tonight, the atmosphere was very different from previous nights.  At this particular demonstration,  MDPA officers enabled peaceful legimate protest and held up each vehicle coming out of the base.  This  allowed Anni to pass and repass on the highway in the main entrance area to Menwith Hill and Lindis to persue a 'diminius obstruction'  to each vehicle on the slip way coming out of the base. 

 

Ministry of Defence Police Agency officers upheld the right to peaceful protest (as defined in the case of 'Hirst and Agu v Chief Constable 1986) when Lindis quietly and safely stood in front of vehicles for about  five to ten seconds. She was holding the upside down US flag with the words 'NO MORE MEDDLING PLEASE' written on it.

 

This has been at the heart of the struggle that Anni and Lindis have been engaged with for over a long time.  Tonight, there were no 'warnings', 'reported with a view to prosecution' and no arrests (as in the cases before the court).

 

It was excellent that this happened.  There was no explanation forthcoming from the officers present, as to the different approach.  We are due at court tomorrow - with a later start of 11 am, due to Richard Reed (Solicitor) having to be in York Crown Court in the morning.

 

Tomorrow Richard Reed will sum up Anni and Lindis's case and present legal authorities (Hirst and Agu etc).  The Crown Prosecutor may rebutt any legal authorities submitted.

 

District Judge Anderson will then retire to make his decision as to whether he finds Lindis and Anni 'guilty' or 'not guilty' of the alleged offences before him.

  

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