[van-discuss] Britannia Trial Update #2

[Maryann Abbs / Eric Doherty]

Britannia Trial Update #2 – December 2, 3 and 4,  2003
End of Week #1

Police and Government Waste Public Resources in Attempt to Criminalize
Dissent

After the end of the first week of this trial, it has become obvious
that the trial will not wrap in December.  Already, 4 more days have
been scheduled in January and March 2004.  To date, we have heard from 5
police witnesses and 1 civilian witness, and the prosecution may call up
to 19 more police witnesses.

On Tuesday, we heard more testimony from Inspector Huston. Even though
Huston was the in charge during the demonstration, he was unable to tell
the court how many police officers were at the site, why exactly he
ordered the police wagons to go to the Canadian Tire parking lot, or
what happened at the demonstration.  The police and the crown are also
having some difficulty coming up with documents like the police
procedure manual that details, among other things, what is supposed to
happen to arrestees once they are in police custody.   There are other
concerns about missing evidence – so far three of the five officers who
have testified have been unable to locate their notebooks.

The court heard a lot of evidence about the arrest and detention of
George Feenstra, United Church Minister and clown.  George was injured
during the demonstration when the police rammed his head into a wall.
Police witnesses have attempted to explain away George’s injuries by
saying that George and his two arresting officers all simultaneously
stumbled and fell against the wall.

So far, even the police evidence supports that it was the police who
were responsible for causing a disturbance and escalating the situation
at the demonstration by arresting George Feenstra and roughing up and
arresting a child from the community.




This trial is costing a lot of money – over 12 days of court time
booked, and 24 police witnesses.

Please come out and support those on trial:

Trial Dates:  December 8 – 11, 2003
   222 Main Street – room 513
   Starts at 9:30 am each day





-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/van-discuss/attachments/20031206/cb670f70/attachment.htm