Ratcliffe Trial: James Hansen

Post by **clv101** » 05 Jan 2011, 21:08

RenewableCandy wrote:Anyone know what a "conditional discharge" actually means in practice?

I think it confirms that they are guilty, but that there will be no punishment as long as we are not found guilty of anything else over the next couple of years. If they are later found guilty, a punishment could be added related to this previous crime. It's as lenient a sentence the judge could give once the jury found them guilty. [/quote]

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 10 Jan 2011, 07:30

So, was Mark Stone/Kennedy a triple agent?

Here's an discussion, started last October, which makes interesting reading now with the benefit of hindsight.

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/10/ ... n#comments

He's done a brilliant job of scuppering the Ratcliffe trial.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jan/0 ... -activists?

http://ratcliffeontrial.org/collapse/

nexus · Post by **nexus** » 10 Jan 2011, 09:03

Also see this thread http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/forum/vie ... hp?t=17063

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 10 Jan 2011, 12:43

Life imitates art...(one of the smaller Renewables has read this).

In the end, double agents are human. If the group they infiltrate is doing good stuff and of decent character, chances are this kind o'thing may well happen.

I really feel for the guys who knew him as "flash", mind. As one said "A person I thought I knew has now vanished from existence, and is a "never was". It's actually worse than someone dying, in many ways"

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 10 Jan 2011, 12:44

Oh, and another thing: does this have any bearing on the 20 who've already been tried??

Post by **clv101** » 10 Jan 2011, 12:51

RenewableCandy wrote:Oh, and another thing: does this have any bearing on the 20 who've already been tried??

It is a bit odd, I wonder why the defence didn't bring it up? I guess they were hoping to 'win on merit' rather than for this reason.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 10 Jan 2011, 14:05

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... CMP=twt_fd

nexus · Post by **nexus** » 10 Jan 2011, 14:20

Vote here http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... ist-polive on whether the government should be spying on environmental protesters.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 10 Jan 2011, 14:23

clv101 wrote:
RenewableCandy wrote:Oh, and another thing: does this have any bearing on the 20 who've already been tried??
It is a bit odd, I wonder why the defence didn't bring it up? I guess they were hoping to 'win on merit' rather than for this reason.

That's an important question.

A nicely illustrated account is at http://www.ameliasmagazine.com/earth/di ... 011/01/10/

And here's their lawyer's statement: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... um=twitter

This piece in the guardian give food for thought: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... n-activist

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 10 Jan 2011, 22:22

Notts Police press release:

Posted on 10th January 2011 20:43

As a result of an investigation mounted by Nottinghamshire Police, a total of 114 people were arrested on 13 April 2009 on suspicion of conspiring to disable a major power station and so disrupt a critical piece of the national energy infrastructure.

As a result of this investigation, a total of 20 protestors were convicted at Nottingham Crown Court on December 14th 2010 for their part in the planned attack, which was successfully foiled by Nottinghamshire Police.

A second trial of a further six people was due to start today at Nottingham Crown Court. However, a decision was taken by the Crown Prosecution Service to discontinue the case when new significant information came to light that would undermine the prosecution’s case.

In the light of these events, Nottinghamshire Police's Chief Constable Julia Hodson has this evening invited the Independent Police Complaints Commission to conduct an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the collapse of the case.

In addition, discussions are taking place with a number of bodies about commissioning a second review into the conduct of the undercover operation.

Until both reviews have been conducted and concluded and their reports received, Nottinghamshire Police will not be making further public comment on the collapse of the trial and the reasons for this.

Of course PC Kennedy will not have been the only one of his kind. So we now have to ask which of the trouble makers at the student demos last month were actually policemen. I was particularly struck at the time by a video that showed one man taking a metal pole, a piece of a barrier I think, and using it to break windows in the treasury building. It was odd that he was so much acting alone, others watching him but not joining in.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 10 Jan 2011, 22:49

I wonder what they do when their pics get published on News progs before it's known by the nearby polis that they're undercover...or how awkward it is explaining one's true identity "down the Station"? I suppose they must be trained in how to put up with spending a few nights in the slammer by mistake.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 10 Jan 2011, 22:50

nexus wrote:Vote here http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... ist-polive on whether the government should be spying on environmental protesters.

17.2% Yes
82.8% No

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 10 Jan 2011, 22:52

In the light of these events, Nottinghamshire Police's Chief Constable Julia Hodson has this evening invited the Independent Police Complaints Commission to conduct an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the collapse of the case.

One IPCC investigating activities inspired by the reports of the other IPCC!

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 10 Jan 2011, 23:03

Battle of the FLAs...

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 10 Jan 2011, 23:07

Seems to have spilled over into Germany where a

Politician demands that Bundestag reveal what German authorities knew about UK officer's operations

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/ja ... CMP=twt_fd

And

John McDonnell Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, in a tweet wrote:We now need a public inquiry into the role of undercover police in the climate change movement. I will raise in Parliament and with minister