A-Infos (en) Anarchists Appear in Montreal Kangaroo Court

[jesse hirsh <jesse@tao.ca>]

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     A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
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There is a demo this morning at 9am in front of the Palais De Justice and
the accused are to be arragned again at 9:30

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 98 19:03:02 -0500
From: M-J Milloy <mjmilloy@dsuper.net>
Subject: Re: DAMN: Montreal Activists Arrested

>Please keep the list up to date of developments, anyone who knows:

I expect that more official releases will be coming out soon -- until 
then, here's a quick update on today's developments at the arraignment:

Fifteen minutes late, Borden, Leconte and Manseau activists were led into 
a courtroom packed with supporters -- and cops. About eight or nine paced 
on the spot, talking into walkie-talkies and watching the thirty or so 
supporters that had managed to crowd into the courtroom. The rest of the 
day's crowd -- family of other accused, law students, media -- watched in 
confused amusement.

Borden was arraigned first, and as his right, the proceedings were 
conducted in english. The Crown told him that he could "regain his 
freedom" if he agreed to six conditions:
     - remain in the jurisdiction of Montreal
     - notify the authorities if he changes his address
     - not communicate with Manseau, Leconte and Popovic
     - to abstain from going to the municipal courthouse
     - to abstain from possessing a weapon
     - to keep the peace

Before saying whether he agreed or disagreed with the conditions, Borden 
wanted to know how the Crown could set conditions, since just two weeks 
ago the Superior Court had ruled that setting conditions was 
unconstitutional. Obviously caught off guard, the judge didn't answer, 
but forced Borden to say yes or no to the conditions.

After conferring with his lawyer and the other activists, Borden refused 
the conditions, smiled briefly at the crowd of supporters, and was led 
back to jail by two of cops. Although I left the room at that point, it 
is my understanding that both Leconte and Manseau also refused the 
conditions. 

Borden's lawyer confirmed what we already knew outside the courtroom. 
J.F. Barbeau -- who only took on the case fifteen minutes before the 
arraignment, since Borden's regular lawyer was unable to attend -- said 
that Borden and the others turned down the 'deal' on political grounds, 
to make a statement against the Crown's attempts to criminalise poltical 
dissent. Judging from Borden's comments in front of the judge, he is 
confident that the Superior Court decision will be upheld, and release 
them from jail, without conditions, and free to continue their work.


m-j

	http://www.tao.ca/earth/damn


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