| Not at all totalitarian... 17:14 - May 12 with 438 views | Zx1988 |
I've just seen this on the BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/art
The salient point is that Contempt of Court proceedings were brought against a barrister (and subsequently thrown out on procedural grounds) because he had the temerity to remind a jury of their absolute right to acquit, despite the trial judge ordering that they not be told about said right.
I know we've had this discussion before on here, about the principle of Jury Equity, but it seems rather beyond the pale that a barrister should face prosecution for mentioning an entirely legal course of action to the jury.
I'm not for one second condoning the violence involved in the initial incident, but it doesn't surprise me one bit that the case involved Palestine Action. |  |
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| Not at all totalitarian... on 17:23 - May 12 with 373 views | DJR |
This seems even more shocking.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk
Palestine Action activists in Elbit protest could be sentenced as terrorists
Judge’s ruling was not disclosed to jurors in two trials and can only now be revealed after reporting restrictions lifted
Four Palestine Action activists convicted after a retrial over a violent protest at an Israeli arms manufacturer’s UK site face being sentenced as terrorists despite the jury not being told this.
In an unprecedented move in a criminal damage case, the judge, Mr Justice Johnson, ruled before the first trial that there appeared to be a “terrorist connection” to the offences – even though the protest took place before Palestine Action was proscribed – but this could not be told to the jury. The finding and the restriction on telling the jury continued for the retrial.
Jurors subsequently convicted Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Rajwani, 21, of criminal damage over the 2024 break-in at the Elbit Systems UK site near Bristol.
The terrorism connection ruling can now be revealed after reporting restrictions were lifted on Tuesday.
If the court finds there was, it would mean the four would have to serve their whole sentence in prison, unless a parole board approved their release after completing two-thirds of their sentence. Non-terrorist prisoners usually serve 40% of their sentence.
The parole board would also have to be satisfied that the defendants were reformed and had rescinded their beliefs.
Upon release, the defendants could be recorded as terrorists for life, meaning any new device, bank account, email address or relationship would have to be registered with the police for the rest of their life and they could be sent back to prison if they do not comply or make a mistake. |  | | |
| Not at all totalitarian... on 17:26 - May 12 with 350 views | Zx1988 |
| Not at all totalitarian... on 17:23 - May 12 by DJR |
This seems even more shocking.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk
Palestine Action activists in Elbit protest could be sentenced as terrorists
Judge’s ruling was not disclosed to jurors in two trials and can only now be revealed after reporting restrictions lifted
Four Palestine Action activists convicted after a retrial over a violent protest at an Israeli arms manufacturer’s UK site face being sentenced as terrorists despite the jury not being told this.
In an unprecedented move in a criminal damage case, the judge, Mr Justice Johnson, ruled before the first trial that there appeared to be a “terrorist connection” to the offences – even though the protest took place before Palestine Action was proscribed – but this could not be told to the jury. The finding and the restriction on telling the jury continued for the retrial.
Jurors subsequently convicted Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Rajwani, 21, of criminal damage over the 2024 break-in at the Elbit Systems UK site near Bristol.
The terrorism connection ruling can now be revealed after reporting restrictions were lifted on Tuesday.
If the court finds there was, it would mean the four would have to serve their whole sentence in prison, unless a parole board approved their release after completing two-thirds of their sentence. Non-terrorist prisoners usually serve 40% of their sentence.
The parole board would also have to be satisfied that the defendants were reformed and had rescinded their beliefs.
Upon release, the defendants could be recorded as terrorists for life, meaning any new device, bank account, email address or relationship would have to be registered with the police for the rest of their life and they could be sent back to prison if they do not comply or make a mistake. |
That's sickening.
You'd think that the jury being told that they're actually trying the defendants as terrorists, would probably have increased the chances of a conscience-based acquittal.
Not that such a thing would ever have crossed the judge's mind. | |
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| Not at all totalitarian... on 18:30 - May 12 with 223 views | Zx1988 |
The seeming utter judicial panic about Jury Equity has got me thinking of those scam adverts you see on social media:
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| Not at all totalitarian... on 19:19 - May 12 with 121 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Not at all totalitarian... on 17:23 - May 12 by DJR |
This seems even more shocking.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk
Palestine Action activists in Elbit protest could be sentenced as terrorists
Judge’s ruling was not disclosed to jurors in two trials and can only now be revealed after reporting restrictions lifted
Four Palestine Action activists convicted after a retrial over a violent protest at an Israeli arms manufacturer’s UK site face being sentenced as terrorists despite the jury not being told this.
In an unprecedented move in a criminal damage case, the judge, Mr Justice Johnson, ruled before the first trial that there appeared to be a “terrorist connection” to the offences – even though the protest took place before Palestine Action was proscribed – but this could not be told to the jury. The finding and the restriction on telling the jury continued for the retrial.
Jurors subsequently convicted Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Rajwani, 21, of criminal damage over the 2024 break-in at the Elbit Systems UK site near Bristol.
The terrorism connection ruling can now be revealed after reporting restrictions were lifted on Tuesday.
If the court finds there was, it would mean the four would have to serve their whole sentence in prison, unless a parole board approved their release after completing two-thirds of their sentence. Non-terrorist prisoners usually serve 40% of their sentence.
The parole board would also have to be satisfied that the defendants were reformed and had rescinded their beliefs.
Upon release, the defendants could be recorded as terrorists for life, meaning any new device, bank account, email address or relationship would have to be registered with the police for the rest of their life and they could be sent back to prison if they do not comply or make a mistake. |
I’ve always thought that’s way over the top. I’ve got absolutely no problem with them being charged with trespassing, criminal damage, violence against the security guard(s). A horrific attack took place (at least one but I can’t remember if there were more). But terrorism? Nah, not for me. Quite the opposite. They were violently protesting against terrorism being committed by Israel and our contribution to it. (Obviously the jurors not being made aware of that charge just stacks injustice on top of injustice).
IIRC, there have been some rather suspect judge rulings around climate activists too. |  |
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