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UK: Judge rejects CPS attempt to overturn DSEI arms fair protesters acquittal

24 May 2016

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"A judge dismissed charges against protesters at an arms fair in east London who felt they were attempting to stop a "greater crime".

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) appealed against the acquittal of eight activists who demonstrated against the Defence Security and Equipment International (DSEI) event at the ExCel centre in London's Docklands in 2015. The protesters, accused of wilful obstruction of the highway after attempting to block entrance into the annual arms fair, believed they were preventing the sale of weapons that would abuse human rights in countries such as Yemen and Bahrain.

District Judge Hamilton has now rejected the CPS' appeal to have the acquittals overturned on the basis their argument was "frivolous" and "misconceived". He added: "The CPS application repeatedly significantly misrepresents the contents of the judgement delivered at the end of the case and therefore seeks to challenge the decisions reached on wholly erroneous bases.

"The very least the CPS should do is read the judgement fully and, if appropriate, frame their application based on what was actually decided rather than what they seem to believe was decided."

See the article: Judge rejects CPS attempt to overturn DSEI arms fair protesters acquittal (ibtimes.co.uk, link)

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