EDO Decommissioner on remand - Elijah 'James' Smith update

bristol | protests | news report Tuesday October 27, 2009 22:17 by supporter - EDO Decommissioners supporters

Set him free cos he aint guilty!

Here's an update for readers on the situation of the EDO Decommissioner still on remand - Elijah 'James' Smith. Info taken/edited from the Decommissioners and Bristol ABC websites.

Support our prisoners!

The court case of the EDO Decommissioners has been adjourned till May 17th 2010. This was at the request of the defence team due to the prosecution stalling in the bringing forward of evidence.

Elijah Smith will remain in prison, probably for the duration as there are three court cases pending and the judge refuses to give him bail when they are happening. At present Elijah is being moved around at such a rate its hard to keep up with where he is...

Currently Elijah is back in Lewes prison where he’ll stay until November 5th. Write to him please at: Elijah Smith, VP 7551, HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, East Susses, BN7 1EA

On the 5th Elijah is due at Yate court (just north of Bristol) for yet another committal hearing in the Raytheon 3 case, along with 2 other also involved in the EDO case - this hearing should set a date for the Raytheon 3 case to be heald at a crown court. On the 6th November he should face another trial, probably at Maidstone court, which relates to him giving the CEO of EDO, Paul Hills, a piece of his mind during a court hearing a short while back. Unfortunately, the court interpreted his comments to Hills as 'threatening a witness'. So abuse of arms manufacturer equals court case, BUT production of parts of weapons of mass destruction and subsequent terrorisation/murder of innocent families equals successful businessman. Hmmm...lets all threaten Paul Hills shall we in solidarity with the defendants.

It's unclear where Elijah will go after this case, it may depend on the outcome! Witness intimidation is likely to lead to a custodial sentence, and absolutely remove Elijah's chances of bail. So keep an eye out on the websites listed in this piece for updates. If you aren't sure where to write then letters of support can be sent c/o PO Box 6, Booty, 82 Colston Street, Bristol. BS1 5BB

Elijah and the other EDO Decommissioners are due back at Brighton court on 30 November/1 December for a case management hearing that relates to the expected trial next May.

In the meantime, please support the protest on 31 October in Bristol (see http://decommissioners.co.uk/2009/10/16/711/), and help escalate the campaigns against the manufacturers of weapons of mass destruction, and against all wars.