Press Releases & Updates 2000

Today at Manchester Crown Court, three witnesses gave evidence on behalf of the defence:

Prof Paul Rodgers, Peace Studies Department, Bradford University

Angie Zelter, founder, Trident Ploughshares 2000

Rebecca Johnson, Executive Director, defence-analysis think-tank, the Acronym Institute

Angie Zelter gave evidence that the defendants, as part of the TP2000 organisation, had exhausted every available conventional remedy, before taking direct action, to seek to ensure that the British government took notice of the 1996 opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding the illegality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons. Much of today’s evidence related to the immediacy of the threat of nuclear weapons: Paul Rodgers explained how the threat posed by the Trident fleet of nuclear submarines is fundamental to Britain’s current nuclear posture, both within NATO and independent of it. Rebecca Johnson amplified the immediacy of the nuclear threat by describing the context of heightened international tension in the Middle East following Operation Desert Fox - immediately before the women carried out their disarmament action.

Prosecution barrister, Mr Watson, appeared particularly ineffectual when he attempted to undermine the credibility of expert witness Rebecca Johnson, by alleging that she could not remember the universities from which she had gained her numerous qualifications. Ms Johnson, who regularly provides opinions for the Foreign Office and United Nations is considered one of a very small group of experts in the world in relation to issues of nuclear non-proliferation.

The jury was dismissed at 3pm in order for the judge to take information from both the defence and prosecution on points of law. The case will resume on Monday at 10am when Justice Humphries will hear further submissions from the legal teams.

The defence case should close on Monday, with a verdict on Monday afternoon or, more likely, Tuesday.

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