Friday, September 3, 2004

NT activists await Supreme Court decision

Four human rights activists facing jail for a protest in the Northern Territory Parliament now face a tense wait for an appeal decision against the conviction to be handed down by the NT Supreme Court.

After 3 days of submissions in the NT Supreme Court, Justice David Angel reserved his judgement.

Gary Meyerhoff, Robert Inder-Smith and Stuart Highway, all members of the Network Against Prohibition and Mick Lambe, the coordinator of the anti-racism group, People Against Racism In Aboriginal Homelands, were among a group of nine people who invaded the chamber of the NT Legislative Assembly on the 14th of May 2002.

The group were protesting against the Labor Government's "drug house" legislation and continued racism in the Northern Territory.

A marathon 16 day hearing in the Darwin Magistrate's Court saw senior cabinet ministers and opposition members appear in the witness box. The activists were found guilty and sentenced to between 14 and 21 months jail.

Network Against Prohibition

By NAP posted 3 September 04

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