Mood:
smellyTopic: peace
We do rather admire Donna Mulhearn ex staffer to Bob Carr Premier of NSW, pictured second from left below.
Copied from Perth IMC feature story:
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Guilty Verdict - Pine Gap Trial 
From the newswire - June 17, 2007: Pine Gap Trial – GUILTY VERDICT
The Pine Gap Four, found guilty of breaching the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952, have been handed minor fines. The public gallery erupted into song, applause, cheers and hugs and the feeling of victory and vindication was in the air. Justice Sally Thomas noted their good behaviour and co-operation in the sentencing decision. "All four were very genuine in the cause they sought to espouse," said Justice Thomas, "however their actions - no matter for what cause - cannot justify the breaking of the law."
The Pine Gap Four - Bryan Law of Cairns, Jim Dowling and Adele Goldie of Brisbane and Donna Mulhearn of Sydney – were found guilty of all charges in the Northern Territory Supreme Court. The jury were visibly distressed when delivering the verdict, which should have been a clear cut decision, with full admissions by the four and no legal defence available to them.
Justice Sally Thomas had allowed the defendants to present evidence throughout the 11 day trial including their beliefs about Pine Gap’s role in the war in Iraq which resulted in civilian deaths and suffering. She later instructed the jury to disregard that evidence and any sympathies they might have for the defendant’s beliefs.
On December 9th 2005 the Pine Gap Four conducted a 'Citizens' Inspection' at Pine Gap to spotlight the base's role in the Iraq war. The Pine Gap Four are the first to be charged under the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act of 1952, with a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment. No sentencing precedent exists for this case.
READ MORE/Comment...
BACKGROUND: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | PINE GAP 4 BLOG
The Pine Gap Four, found guilty of breaching the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952, have been handed minor fines. The public gallery erupted into song, applause, cheers and hugs and the feeling of victory and vindication was in the air. Justice Sally Thomas noted their good behaviour and co-operation in the sentencing decision. "All four were very genuine in the cause they sought to espouse," said Justice Thomas, "however their actions - no matter for what cause - cannot justify the breaking of the law."
The Pine Gap Four - Bryan Law of Cairns, Jim Dowling and Adele Goldie of Brisbane and Donna Mulhearn of Sydney – were found guilty of all charges in the Northern Territory Supreme Court. The jury were visibly distressed when delivering the verdict, which should have been a clear cut decision, with full admissions by the four and no legal defence available to them.
Justice Sally Thomas had allowed the defendants to present evidence throughout the 11 day trial including their beliefs about Pine Gap’s role in the war in Iraq which resulted in civilian deaths and suffering. She later instructed the jury to disregard that evidence and any sympathies they might have for the defendant’s beliefs.
On December 9th 2005 the Pine Gap Four conducted a 'Citizens' Inspection' at Pine Gap to spotlight the base's role in the Iraq war. The Pine Gap Four are the first to be charged under the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act of 1952, with a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment. No sentencing precedent exists for this case.
READ MORE/Comment...
BACKGROUND: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | PINE GAP 4 BLOG
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The military and Australian Govt PR is also busy today in the Sydney Morning Herald with this: Joint military airstrip project one for the books
Complete with amusing picture here (offline):
Picture: pag 2 SMH 18th June 2007
This kind of article is what's known in the media as a 'Look over there' trick beloved of parents to badly behaved toddlers i.e. a distraction technique.
We are told by an art dealer there are some 3,000 USA personnel up at Pine Gap military base. That's alot of staff for whatever they do, now with an airstrip somewhere nearby for building something even bigger at least this side of the wet season?
Posted by editor
at 12:39 PM NZT
Updated: Monday, 18 June 2007 1:16 PM NZT
