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Class War issue 81: Scaring The Horses?
The not guilty verdict for Vincent Bethell, the "right to be naked" protestor, is probably more significant than it at first appears. Whatever you think of Mr Bethell or his protests, this was the first time he had appeared before a jury. On every occasion he had appeared before a magistrate he had been found guilty.
The police, Crown Prosecution Service and Jack 'Boots' Straw want to limit the number of jury trials precisely because juries are more likely to return verdicts like this than some reactionary old tosser of a magistrate.
What's the betting that the next time Mr Bethell is arrested the charge is deliberately framed so as it can only be heard at a magistrates court?
Back to issue 81 contents
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