Background briefing on the legal challenge to Government on GM crop trials
Greenpeace is informing the government that it considers the planting of this winter's GM farm scale trials unlawful. Greenpeace will give the government fourteen days to respond to demands to institute proper planning procedure. After fourteen days we will follow further advice from our legal counsel...
A court date has now been confirmed for the 2nd Lyng trial. The 28 defendants are charged with Criminal Damage after being cleared of theft at the first hearing. The trial will start on September 4th and is expected to last for 2 weeks.
The Jury in the trial of the twenty-eight Greenpeace volunteers charged with criminal damage and theft at Norwich Crown Court has acquitted all the volunteers of theft and failed to reach a verdict on criminal damage.
The announcement, made today (19/4/00), means that the Crown Prosecution Service must now consider whether to seek a retrial. The volunteers had gone on trial on April 3rd on charges relating to a Greenpeace action at Lyng, Norfolk, on 26th July, 1999, where part of an experimental crop of genetically modified (GM) maize was cut down and sealed in bags as part of a campaign to prevent genetic contamination of the environment.
The Jury in the trial of 28 Greenpeace volunteers charged with criminal damage and theft at Norwich Crown Court is expected to retire today to consider it
On Tuesday, 4th April at Court 2 of Norwich Crown Court Peter Melchett will be giving evidence in the case of 28 Greenpeace volunteers charged with criminal damage and theft.
The charges arise from a Greenpeace action in July 1999 when volunteers attempted to prevent a crop of GM maize in Norfolk from flowering.
Further information: Contact: Greenpeace press office on: 020 7865 8255
Reacting to the news that two farmers, listed by the DETR last week as part of 31 taking part in the GM farms scale trial programme, have pulled out in response to local opposition, Andy Tait, Greenpeace GM campaigner said,
" It is great news that farmers have responded to this strong local rejection of GM trials by pulling out of the farm scale trial programme,
