Press Releases & Updates 1999

The defence had submitted that it had been established that there had been no malice in the women’s action. They had been acting to prevent a crime under international law and so had reasonable excuse. The Sheriff should acquit the women.

Sheriff Gimblett said

"I have to conclude that the three accused in company with others were justified in thinking that Great Britain in their use of Trident, not simply deployment, the use and deployment of Trident allied with that use and deployment at times of great unrest, coupled with a first strike policy and in the absence of any indication from any government official then or now that such use fell into any strict category suggested in the International Court of Justice opinion, the threat or use of Trident could be construed as a threat, has indeed been construed by others as a threat and as such is an infringement of international and customary law..... The three took the view they had the obligation in terms of international law to do whatever they could to stop the deployment and use of nuclear weapons in situations which could be construed as a threat. .. I have heard nothing which would make it seem to me that the accused acted with criminal intent. .. Therefore I intend to instruct the jury that they should acquit all three accused on charges 1 to 3 .. and the first part of charge 4."

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