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Press Releases & Updates 2001
9th January 2001
Trident Criminal Conspiracy Trial Begins at Manchester
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The trial began today in Manchester Crown court of two peace activists who
in November 1999 attempted to decommission the Trident nuclear weapon
submarine Vengeance when it was undergoing pre-operational testing in
Barrow docks.
Sylvia Boyes (57), a peace campaigner from Keighley in Yorkshire, and
River, an Open University tutor from Manchester, are charged with
conspiracy to cause criminal damage. Sylvia is represented by solicitor
Gareth Peirce and Barrister Terry Manyard while River is defending himself.
Armed with various handtools and spray varnish, and carrying documents
relating to the illegality of Trident and the damage already done by
nuclear weapons, they had entered the water of the docks, but were
intercepted by a patrol boat before they could swim to the submarine.
In her opening remarks for the Crown, the prosecuting barrister said that
the jury would have every respect for the sincerity of the defendants but
claimed that since Trident was not a crime the pair had no excuse for their
actions. So far only two Crown witnesses, security guards at the Barrow
site, have been heard.
A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said:
"The prosecuting barrister has helpfully indicated that the legal status of
Trident is central to this trial. Whenever the facts about this awful
weapon are measured against international humanitarian law the case against
it is unanswerable."
The trial continues tomorrow.
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