Press Release: 1st UK Legal Challenge To War On Iraq ~ (post-war)

BRISTOL-STOP-THE-WAR Communications
 bristol-stop-the-war-coalition-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


For Immediate Release.

LEGAL CONTACTS :
Contacts have been withheld, as this version is for general release, but if you wish to be sent contact details, please send a reply to  inzideztory@yahoogroups.co.uk


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The 10 Defendants in the cases below will plead 'lawful excuse' for doing, or attempting, criminal damage at RAF/USAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, UK, in the lead up to and during the bombing of Iraq, on the grounds that war on Iraq was illegal making their actions, or attempted actions, legal.

RAF/USAF Fairford was used as a forward bomber base for the duration of the recent air war against Iraq. The defendants are charged with doing, or attempting criminal damage to a
perimeter gate of RAF/USAF Fairford, or the B52 Bombers & vehicles within it.

Before any of these cases can proceed, the judge at Gloucester Crown Court has recognised the need for a pronouncement on the legality or illegality of the war. This is the first time a UK court will have to make a ruling as to whether the war was legal or illegal.

The judge at Gloucester Crown Court has ordered all Fairford Defendants to come to Gloucester Crown Court on June 20th at 10:00am, so that he can sort out the order in which the cases are to be heard. It all promises to get ever more interesting....

THE DEFENDANTS ARE : Josh Richards (charged with going equipped to cause criminal damage) ~ Phil Pritchard and Toby Olditch (charged with conspiracy and going equipped to cause criminal damage) ~ Paul Milling and Margaret Jones
(charged with conspiracy and criminal damage) ~ Kate Holcolme, Geoffrey Cornock and 3 other people (charged with criminal damage to a perimeter gate).
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NOTES TO THE READER:

Plea and Directions Hearing. Please Come Along and Show Support.
Date: Friday 20th June. Time: 10:00am. Place: Gloucester Crown Court.
Kimbrose Way (On the A430 off the A38. On the junction of Commercial Rd & Southgate St).
DIRECTIONS: CLICK BELOW
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=383000&Y=218500&scale=10000

On 3rd and 4th March 2003, fourteen B52 bombers from USAF 23rd Bomb Squadron 'Barons' arrived at RAF/USAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK, to prepare for the aerial bombing of Iraq, which began on the 20th March 2003. On April 24th 2003, after 142 flights and 54 days, they left.

Fairford is in the Cotswolds, UK. RAF/USAF Fairford is one of only 3 forward bases (outside the US) for B2 Stealth bombers. The others are in Guam and Diego Garcia. In tests the B2 has released B61 and B83 mini-nuclear weapons, the first of a new generation.