Pair cleared of air base damage (UK)

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

Protesters who broke into an air base intending to sabotage B-52 bombers have been cleared of all charges.

Toby Olditch, 38, and Philip Pritchard, 36, denied conspiring to cause criminal damage, saying they were trying to prevent war crimes in Iraq.

The activists, from Oxford, admitted using bolt cutters to cut through a perimeter fence at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, prior to the Iraq war.
...
Defending, Edward Rees said they carried out their protest because they believed the planes were being prepared to bomb Iraq indiscriminately with uranium and scatter bombs.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/6681639.stm

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This was a jury trial - and, given they admit cutting the fence, and were carrying the materials, I think this means the jury must have accepted the idea they were trying to prevent a worse crime - ie war crimes.

[dave_p]

1. Glorious

This is what happens when you get the chance to confront people with the truth and dig beyond the immediate question (Did they intend damage? Yes) to the underlying issues (Were they trying to obstruct a far greater crime? Yes).

[Ian David]

2. "The Moral Imperative" Defense and/or Jury Nullification? n/t