Press Releases & Updates 2000

He ruled that the defences available within the Criminal Damage Act of necessity/duress and acting to protect property or life, could be left for the jury to decide on. The third legal defence put forward - that of preventing a greater crime (in this instance the crime of genocide and the transgression of various international laws of war) - could not be submitted to the jury. Justice Humphries justified this on his belief that the threat or use of Trident does not contravene existing English law (a debatable point given the arguments of universal jurisdiction, and the fact that both the Geneva Convention and the Genocide Act have been incorporated into English law.

Before final summing up, the court heard Rachel Wenham dispense with the services of her Barrister - Julia Dick - choosing instead to represent herself and speak to the jury directly. In a dignified address she emphasised the ever-present threat of nuclear annihilation and appealed to the jury to follow their individual consciences in accordance with the Nuremberg Principles.

Justice Humphries dismissed the jury at 15:30, he will deliver his summing up tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, leaving the jury to return a verdict later in the day.

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