Press Releases & Updates 2000

From her days living outside the Alvis tank factory in Coventry and her political life-changing encounters with BAe Hawk disarmers Andrea Needham and Angie Zelter, to the action she took with Rachel Wenham on 1 February 1999, Rosie presented a thoughtful and moving account of her work and life.

In reply to cross-examination regarding the Vengeance action, Rosie made it clear that she expected to be arrested, charged and tried for her actions. She said, "We were not criminals running a way from what we did; what we did was true and right and proper, and we feel no shame in taking it before a court of law".

In a case that seeks to establish that the women’s action was taken in order to prevent greater crimes, Rosie James stated that "It is perfectly clear that Trident breaks every cardinal principle of international law, not to mention our gut instincts on how to behave to each other."

Despite the best efforts of the prosecution, Judge Humphries did not rule out Rosie’s evidence relating to the International Court of Justice’s 1996 Opinion on the legality on nuclear weapons. She went on to say that Britain’s possession of the Trident nuclear weapon system was based on its economic interests rather than the defence of the nation.

From the witness box Rosie James described how on the night of their disarmament action, the women had swum in darkness across the dock at Barrow, boarded the submarine despite a full security presence, and had been able to disarm radar surveillance testing equipment before handing themselves in to security.

Rosie’s co-defendant, Rachel Wenham, will appear in court and begin giving evidence this afternoon. Expert witnesses and legal arguments will be heard on Friday.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR DAY OF VERDICT

In the event of a not guilty verdict and acquittal:

This would be as significant as the acquittal of the Hawks women at Liverpool Crown Court in 1996 and of the acquittal of the three women Greenock Sheriff Court in October 1999 and would mean that the court had accepted the relevance of international law in respect of Britain’s possession of nuclear weapons.

A photo-call will be held on the steps of Manchester Crown Court immediately after the court is dismissed, followed by a press conference at the Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester - this will take place two hours after the court is dismissed. Both defendants and their support team will be available for questions.

In the event of a guilty verdict:

A press conference will be held at the Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester - this will take place two hours after the court is dismissed. Representatives of the defendants will provide a written statement and will also be available for questions.

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