Category Archives: Justice

So what changes after Meneze’s death?

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Hand wringing all round, but no comfort for the de Menezes family The unfortunate and traumatised officers responsible for what should have been found an “unlawful” killing are back on duty. The policy to shoot into the head using the expanding bullet remains in full force. Who are the bigger threats to our safety, “terrorists” or the law enforcers?
On this occasion bombs failed to detonate but police officers, who members of the public, traumatised passengers on the tube standing in Stockwell tube station thought were a gang of high spirited and unruly youth, didn’t fail to kill. They were safe evidently. You see the bllet is designed to cause as much damage to the brain as possible as it expands and it won’t come out to harm innocent bystanders. Problem is Charles de Menezes was an innocent bystander.

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Menezes a disgrace from first to last

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The ending of the trial relating to the death of Jean Charles de Menezes ended in a way that did nothing to mitigate the appalling circumstances of his death at Stockwell tube station. Th jury did all they could with the options left to them recording an open verdict. They rejected “lawful killing” as the outcome and unable to determine this was an unlawful killing by direction of the judge chose the only option available to them that didn’t vindicate the action of the Metropolitan Police.
The de Menezes family who were present tried to make their feelings known but officialdom failed to recognise them and their feelings of revulsion – which I think are widely shared – and denied them access. This all adds to the idea that the legal system is alien and remote from the people it is supposed to represent and protect from injustice.

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Menezes. The witnesses

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From the first the shooting of the innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes raised questions. To have been a passenger that day when the train stopped at the Stockwell underground station remains unimaginable. Now those present are talking about what they witnessed. One speaks of the police appearing to be a group of young lads larking about. This is at odds with the accounts of the police being involved in a deadly serious operation. The first time the witness realised something was wrong was when the first shot was fired. No one identified themselves as police. More questions raised, it seems, than answered.
The evidence from two witnesses so far contradicts claims that police called out warnings of who they were and that they were armed. We were told that they were acting in the belief that their suspect was about to detonate a bomb, yet to the witnesses their demeanor was even casual. “Lads having a lark” it seemed.

Born in prison

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Maybe if you’re born is a prison you might end up being saviour of the world. Maybe you won’t. A report says that now, under New Labour, around 4 children are born each week to women in our prisons. Recommendations were that this should only happen in “exceptional circumstances”.
I visited a young woman on remand in a young offenders’ institution. It was most certainly a prison. Sure they tried to ensure she developed her education and parenting skills, but the environment was extremely harsh. As a visitor you had to surrender the complete contents of your pockets before you were allowed in. And you were securely locked in. This young women had got in with the wrong crowd, but the reason for making her give birth in such a setting was certainly not “exceptional.” She did very well, except she refused to listen to those who insisted she should not take the child into her bed. This is something much frowned upon, but as far as I know is not uncommon. Anyway I knew the reason why she did this. She had a child before that was taken into care. The child died while in “care”. She found this out when she overheard someone speaking about it while in court. She quickly arranged to see the child’s body and noticed serious burn marks on the legs.
When she left prison she went to a hostel for mothers and children. Many of those there were people with learning difficulties and had difficulties just coping with their children. The young woman did not fit in. She stayed out continually, the placement was ended and the child was taken into care. Like her mother she was in care and now the third generation. When, I asked continually when representing her at meetings with professionals, would this cycle end? And where did she go to when she was out without permission? She was visiting the grave of her first born.

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Pauline to be remembered at rally

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Pauline to be remembered at rally
NO MORE DEATHS IN CUSTODY
Press Release
10th ANNUAL DEATH IN CUSTODY FAMILES IN MARCH ON DOWNING STREET
The United Families & Friends Campaign, the national coalition of families whose loved ones have died in police, prison and psychiatric custody will march to Downing Street to challenge the Prime Minister to intervene in the lack of justice for families following a death in custody.
Families attending include those of Jean Charles De Menezes, Roger Sylvester, Brian Douglas, Mikey Powell, Christopher Alder, Paul Coker, Jason Mcpherson and many others.
Important notes:
1. Since 1969 we have had 2,533 deaths for which the names of the individuals are known. Hundreds of others are unknown. Between 27 October 2007 – 17 October 2008 we have had 182 deaths where the identity of the individual is known. Details: www.inquest.org.uk
2 This is the 10th such march and coincides with an online petition on Downing Street to which the Prime Minister must respond. Details: visit 4WardEver page
3. Since last years march there has been the tragic death of Pauline Campbell who was in the midst of a campaign for justice for her daughter Sarah. Her passing will be marked during the day.
Details: www.rememberpauline.wordpress.com
Procession details: Saturday 25th October 2008
Assemble at 1.00pm at Nelsons Column, Trafalgar Square, London
Procession along Whitehall followed by protest at Downing Street
Press information: UFFC 07770 432 439
FBU 07764927729
Pauline had been a tireless campaigner against the deaths of women in prison and psychiatric custody ever since the tragic death of her own daughter, Sarah, in 2003.

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Pauline Campbell’s Will

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I have received a message that Pauline Campbell’s will has disappeared and her wishes to benefit charity are being ignored. Her legacy deserves better than that.
The news of Pauline’s death came as a shock to her friends and many who didn’t know her but were affected by her dedicated work. Pauline was fearless and at each demonstration would request that women arriving at the prison in a van should be taken to a place of safety. The police response was violent and she and her supporters were thrown to the ground on more than one occasion.
Her actions were followed by court appearances. Not only were they costly, they proved to be of no value, a complete waste of time. Pauline was honoured and took part in a number of broadcasts, in fact she was the regular speaker every time the subject of deaths in prison came up. She was invited as a speaker at a international conference on penal abolition.

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Give us the evidence

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A US court has ruled that it will not support government claims that an individual is an “enemy combatant” if there is insufficient evidence. Such a case is reported in today’s “Washington Post” (1/7/2008). According to the report the decision could have far reaching implications for other cases.
Last week Moazzam Begg, who had been detained at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, spoke at a conference held at Aston University. This discussed what had happened a year after Blair had packed his bags and vacated Downing Street. Speakers included Salma James, widow of the distinguished writer and historian CLR James.

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A desperate plea from Friends of Bil’in

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Each week the people of Bil’in protest against the wall, their loss of land and livelihood, and violent attacks by Israeli soldiers armed to the teeth on defenseless people. Now, as reported before, live ammunition is in use in contravention of Israeli law.
F.F.J June 20 2008-“The Israeli Army has used almost every weapon in their arsenal to impose their Apartheid on the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. In many cases these weapons, which are often lethal, are used on the whole of the Palestinian population regardless of whether they are simply trying to lead a private family life or if they are resisting the occupation.
The Village of Bilin in particular has been struggling against the Apartheid Wall and the occupation for three consecutive years using peaceful resistance. Bilin has been holding weekly demonstrations with the participation of local villagers, internationals, and Israeli supporters. In return, the Israeli Army has used all manner of violent methods and weapons to silence the Bilin Resistance, even though Bilin’s approach has been non-violent.”

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Consumers of death

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The Jewish Voice for Peace covers the story of how nine activists disrupted an arms manufacturer in Northern Ireland. When their case came to court the judge ruled it was not illegal to prevent killing.
Raytheon are said to have provided lethal weapons to the U.S. and Israel used for the killing and maiming of many civilians. Apart from demonstrating the activists disrupted the company’s computers.
The banned film “On the Verge” also showed how a group of determined people demonstrated against another manufacturer dealing in death in Brighton. It seems that reasons for not allowing the film to be shown are that it shows heavy-handed policing. Once again the courts took a different view and threw out the case brought by the police.

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Pauline Campbell’s legacy

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I attended Pauline Campbell’s funeral which took place at St Alkmund’s Parish Church, Whitchurch in Shropshire last Friday (30th May, 2008). Family and friends took part in a service where her young friend, Georgina Griffiths, had organised music associated with Pauline. Fond tributes were paid by representatives of the Howard League for Penal Reform (Frances Crook, their Director) and Inquest as well as close friends.
paulines_legacy.jpg
Others remained outside with a banner accusing the Home Office with responsibility for now Pauline’s death. Pauline was interviewed outside Holloway prison earlier this year, along with other demonstrators, including Georgina, who had been a friend of Pauline’s daughter Sarah until her death in 2004. Before the interview Pauline had been manhandled by the police present and brought to the floor by a 16 stone officer.