C.A.A.T. not guilty : Melbourne Indymedia

Christains Against All Terrorism member Sean O'Reilly was found not guilty in the Alice springs Magistrates court this Friday March 3rd. O'Reilly had been charged with obstructing police while holding an anti-war vigil outside the Pine Gap Military facility in December last year.

The Pine Gap Military facility had been shut down for four hours as a result of the C.A.A.T. civil disobedience action early that morning. As the cars lined up for kilometers Sean O'reilly and fellow C.A.A.T. member Jessica Morrison held a vigil outside the front gates. Holding a banner stating 'Expose Pine Gap', O'reilly was arrested for obstruction after he questioned the federal police about their right to search the C.A.A.T. vehical and remove property.

The Pine Gap military facility is considered by C.A.T.T. to be terrorist base. We condemn the state terrorism behind the US and Australia’s illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq. We cannot distinguish between the terrorist acts of a suicide bomber in Baghdad, or of a jet bomber in Fallujah. In both cases innocents are murdered and maimed for a political objective.

Early morning on December the 14th 2006 four members of C.A.A.T. breached the boundaries of the Pine Gap military facility to carry out a citizens inspection. Two members entered the base, hung a banner and climbed onto a roof for further inspection of the base.

Four members of C.A.A.T. Jim Dowling, Bryan Law, Donna Mulhern and Adele Goldie will appear in the Alice Springs magistrate court for a committal hearing on April 19th. The four have been charged with Trespass and Destruction of Commonwealth property. They are still waiting to be informed whether they have been charged under the 1952 defence act which carries a maximum seven year sentence.
C.A.A.T. needs help, if you would like to offer financial support please donate to:
c/- "Sean O'Reilly" Commonwealth Bank, Kippa-Ring
Branch Account Number :064166 102 66 104

Sean O’Reilly found not guilty of obstructing Commonwealth official.

On Friday in the Alice Springs Magistrate’s Court, magistrate Melanie Little found me not guilty of obstructing a Commonwealth official. The charge, which carries a maximum 2 years imprisonment, arose out of the Pine Gap 6’s action in December under the banner of Christians Against All Terrorism. After four of the group had been arrested inside the base attempting to carry out a citizen’s inspection, Jessica Morrison and I were detained by Commonwealth Protective Services (CPS) officers as we vigiled in support at the base entrance. As the traffic banked up in what eventually was a 4-hour lockdown of Pine Gap, I was arrested by officer David Parker after questioned his authority for searching our vehicle and removing cameras, banners and other belongings. On Monday, the assistant federal prosecutor for the Northern Territory, Mr. Paul Usher, presented evidence provided by Parker, fellow CPS officer, Veronica Maass, a further CPS officer and 2 N.T police officers.

Parker claimed that he informed me of his powers under Section 14 of the Australian Federal Police Act (1979) which I denied. He went on to claim that he warned me 8-10 times over 15 minutes as I allegedly continued to ‘badger’, hinder by stepping in his path and prevent Parker from properly performing his duties. Parker stated that I came within 6-8 inches of him. When I suggested that I hadn’t met a police officer yet that would tolerate that level of harassment, Parker responded that he was giving me the benefit of the doubt. I further challenged Parker on his recollection of the event.

Cracks began to appear in the prosecution’s case when officer Veronica Maass, who was monitoring Jessica, gave her testimony and was cross-examined. Maass stated that the episode lasted 5-10 minutes and that Parker warned me ‘a few times’. When pressed further she replied 3-5 times. She stated that I got between Parker and the vehicle, which Parker had not claimed. She could not recall exactly what I had stated. Despite dealing with Jessica, Maass claimed to have had an uninterrupted view of what took place. When their notes were requested, Maass’s notes stated I was arrested at 06.18 hr. and Parker’s said 06.40hr.

I couldn’t understand what contribution the third CPS officer was making for the prosecution and barely listened. However when Darren Kirk from the N.T. Police stated that the whole episode lasted only 3-4 minutes my attention was refocussed. Fellow officer, Richard Lyons, then testified that he was unsure how long the incident lasted but no more than 5 minutes. He testified that the exchange between Parker and I ‘appeared amicable’.

Towards the end of the luncheon adjournment the prosecutor approached me in the foyer. He presented me with some previous decisions pertaining to obstruction and hindrance. A friend and I quickly examined them. There seemed to be more material in them to support my case than that of the prosecution. On resumption Mr. Usher referred to several sections and so did I. I did not call any witnesses, unable to arrange a video link with Jessica as demanded by the court. Mr. Usher and I then both summarised our cases. I pointed out what by now were obvious inconsistencies in evidence provided by the witnesses for the prosecution and referred to the previous decisions, which covered the substantiality of any obstruction or hindrance. By now the magistrate had a copy of these cases and this was to prove significant.

Magistrate Little reserved her decision until Friday when after a summation lasting about 30 minutes she delivered a verdict of not guilty. It was a moment of relief and elation. The decision was strongly based on those inconsistencies in evidence and the case decisions, which I had highlighted. I received reasonable local media coverage and have made an application for costs. Bryan Law, Adele Goldie, Jim Dowling and Donna Mulhearn, arrested inside the Pine Gap base, will appear for committal hearing set down for the 19-20 April. It has yet to be determined whether they will also be charged under the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952 which carries a maximum 7-year sentence. We continue to need your support to cover travel and other expenses to continue this witness through the court process.

Thanks,

Sean O’Reilly

*We need your support. Donations can be deposited in our account.
Commonwealth Bank
Kippa-Ring Branch
‘Sean O’Reilly’
Acc. No. 064166-10266104

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/editorial/14080821.htm

Met with 2 of the 4 going to commital hearings in Alice Springs in April. Great people and of great spirit. It is obvious their spirit is nourished by the solidarity (financial, music gig next week & messages of support). We should be accompanying these fine folks over the next months as the go throught the court secene for this nonviolent act of resistance to Australia's ongoing complicity to the war.

Brian was heading home to meet a Cyclone 5 at Mission Beach. So hope he is ok?

Last Wednesday in a telephonic hearing over court costs following his acquittal, Sean was ordered nn costs from the magistrate in Darwin. costs asked for included transport back to Alice Springs and 3 days lost work.

Of course Bush appeals to that lump of excreta that people call god. Both god and capitalism get their kicks from death and suffering. The sooner both are obliterated the better for the planet.

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/04/110727.php

Thankyou for your article. It's about time Christians began seriously opposing the caricature of Christendom presented by corporate media for the purposes of endorsing Imperial Agendas.

Christ opposed the Kyriarchy in all its manifestations. It is fitting that his followers do also. Now that the 'net exists, there's no excuse for us not to reveal the lies told using a pretense of faith to fraudulently authorise Imperial agendas.

More power to you. Lis

<a href="users.bigpond.com/lisui/">Suiblog

Here is a story about wireless weapons have been used to torture and harass legal, innocent, unarmed and defenseless people more than 4 and half years. It started since Dec 2001 in Melbroune. Please read the full story from http://spaces.msn.com/soleilmavis
http://www.geocities.com/soleilmavis