Brutal arrest shocks Raytheon trial

bristol | protests | news report Wednesday April 15, 2009 15:15 by solidarity

Elija (James) Smith in 2 day trial at Yate court

Yesterday, 14 April, saw day 1 of Elija (James) Smith's 2-day trial at Yate court. He faces a charge of aggravated trespass under section 68 of the 1994 Criminal Justice Act. The charges relate to 2 actions at Raytheon's office up in Frenchay, on the 23/24 October, and 5 November. James is the only defendant, charges against all other Raytheon campaigners appear to have bee dropped.

Raytheon was targetted in 2008/9 by Bristol campaigners because of its role in profiting from the production of weapons of mass destruction, that have been used across the Middle East, and more recently in the Israeli assault on Gaza earlier this year. Over the Christmas period campaigners sustained a rooftop protest for over 4 weeks at the office. Details of the anti-Raytheon campaign are here http://raytheonout.wordpress.com/

James is currently on remand at Bristol prison due to charges arising from the decommissioning of the EDO/MBM (ITT) factory in Brighton on 16/17 January. In the court he looked well and healthy, and his fighting spirit was still strong, which almost resulted in him being kicked out of court and down to the cells!

The charge against him arise from a rooftop and carpark protest at the Raytheon offices on 23/24 October; followed by a further protest on 5 November when James locked onto the entrance doors to the office block, by way of a d-lock around his neck. At the second protest James was accompanied by 1 other campaigner, a Mr Angel, who was removed from the scene at around 10.30am (he was not locked on).

Despite the relatively minor charge, the prosecution went all out for a conviction in front of the district judge. Their witnesses included 2 assistant managers from the owner of the office block (Premier Office Holdings), plus 5 police officers, plus a further 4 witness statements from other officers. The cops giving evidence included Inspector Hackett, another inspector, and Sgt Goddard from the specialist protestor removal/unlocking team based at Avon police HQ in Portishead.

Given the amount of witnesses and police video evidecne, this seems a fairly open and shut case, with James's defence likely to rely purely on the argument that resisting war crimes if not a crime. However without a jury, just a judge, his chances must be slim.

Of most interest was the evidence from Sgt Goddard regarding his specialist teams work, and the subsequent video evidence of James being unlocked and then arrested in a most brutal fashion. Despite strenuous attempts by the cops to pretend their biggest concern was james's own health and safety, even the goons in the dock with him from Reliance security appeared disturbed by the nature of the police behaviour. The video showed James being forced into a kneeling position with the d-lock digging into the back of his neck. His hands were then cuffed behind his back, whilst two cops held him tightly in position, a third was seen treading on his leg on the floor, and his head was also forced against the door. It is almost certain the cops were finding pressure points throughout to inflict pain. 2 further cops then use a specialist rebar cutting tool to chop off the d-lock and another chain lock.

What followed next was even more shocking. Bear in mind that no other campaigners were present to witness this, so the arrest had not been seen before. James was forced from a kneeling position into lying on the floor on his front, with his face forced against the ground, whilst still cuffed. One cop then knelt on his lower back and upper thigh, whilst 2 others proceeded to tie a strap around his legs near the knee. A further strap was then wound around his body just above his cuffed hands, and a third strap was then placed around his body around his upper arms. He was then picked up bodily from his face down position by 4 cops and carried into the back of a police van like a trussed up chicken.

Given this was a non-violent protest, and James was alone, there can be no excuse whatsoever for the brutality of this arrest. After being unlocked, whilst already cuffed, it would have been quite sufficient for him to be escorted walking to the police van by a couple of cops. The police should remember - that we dont forget.

The outcome of James's trial should be known later today. However he will in any case remain on remand at Bristol prison, locked up for nearly 3 months without a trial for the EDO decommissioning action.

So lets see some solidarity for James and the other EDO Decommissioners awaiting trial - support the noise demo of Bristol prison this Saturday 18 April. Meet from 3pm on the corner of Cambridge Rd and Gloucester Rd, Bishopston BS7.

Support the EDO Decommissioners - http://decommisioners.wordpress.com/

Write and support the 2 EDO Decommissioners on remand:
Robert Alford VP 7552 HMP Lewes , 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, Sussex, BN7 1EA
Elija Smith VP 7551 HMP Bristol, 19 Cambridge Rd, Horfield, BS7 8PS

Show your support & solidarity in any other ways you see fit, from writing to your MP etc, to campaigning against the arms trade & wars, to resisting the prison society we are being forced to live in.