What's happening?
Tony Blair's legal case for war will come under scrutiny on Tuesday when fourteen Greenpeace activists appear in court in Southampton. They face charges relating to the occupation of tanks in February 2003 at the Marchwood military port in Southampton, from where hardware and supplies were being sent to Iraq. The occupation was part of a week of actions at Marchwood aimed at stopping the build up to war (1).
All fourteen defendants face the charge of aggravated trespass (2), which means that the prosecution must prove they were disrupting a "lawful" activity. Thus the defence will seek to demonstrate that the war was illegal. The fourteen are being represented by Rabinder Singh QC and Timothy Owen QC of Matrix Chambers.
Where and when?
Southampton Magistrates Court from 10am on Tuesday March 9th
For more information call Greenpeace UK press office on 0207 865 8255.
For supporting photos contact Greenpeace picture desk on 0207 865 8294.
For supporting video contact Greenpeace Press Office on 0207 865 8255.
Download a copy of the background briefing about the legal case, or for more information about this and other Greenpeace actions against the war in Iraq visit the Stop the War campaign homepage.
Notes:
(1) The fourteen defendants entered the port and occupied tanks queued up to leave on the roll-on/roll-off ferry Stena Shipper. This was just one element of a week of actions at Marchwood, aimed at trying to stop the build up to war against Iraq. This included repeatedly blockading the port with the Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior to prevent loaded military vessels departing and volunteers attaching themselves to fully loaded military supply vessels to prevent them moving. The protests only ended after the Rainbow Warrior was stormed by military police who then cut her anchor chain and towed her away. Rainbow Warrior Captain, Argentinean Daniel Rizotti still faces charges for anchoring the Rainbow Warrior in the fairway, so as to obstruct navigation without the permission of the harbour master contrary to byelaw 22 of the Southampton Harbour Byelaws 1988, and sections 51 and 52 of the British Transport Docks Act 1964 and section 83 of the Harbour, Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847. For more information visit:www.greenpeace.org.uk/stopthewar
(2) Four of the defendants face additional charges of criminal damage relating to painting tanks with No War messages.
The defendants are: Oliver Knowles of London; Ashby Smith of Washington DC, USA; Laura Yates of London; Natalie Duck of London; Graham Thompson of Romford, Essex; Helen Wallace of Buxton, Derbyshire; Janice Harron of London; Jim Footner of Shropshire; Rachel Murray of Glasgow; Richard Watson of Burnley; Robin Oakley of Lancashire; Belinda Fletcher of Oxford; Ben Ayliffe of London; Jens Loewe of Germany.
