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Home | Friday 20th November 2009 | Issue 700

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NOT A LEG TO STAND ON

Photojournalist Guy Smallman may finally see some measure of justice after a police stun grenade left him badly injured six and a half years ago at the G8 summit in Geneva (See SchNEWS 410).

A video of the incident clearly shows police firing stun grenades continually at a fleeing crowd. Guy is towards the back of the group and as the fire zeroes in on him he is eventually hit.

Guy won the first court case despite police lies saying that he was injured by protesters. However the police appealed successfully (the guidelines on use of the stun grenades were changed retrospectively to avoid paying him any damages). This is the final appeal and Guy’s last chance for justice. 

If the court decision falls on the state side, Guy will end up owing massive costs. In other words, he will end up paying the Swiss authorities for blowing off the back back of his leg.

Guy told SchNEWS, “I’m just looking forward to getting the fucking thing over and done with to be honest with you - the injury has left me only able to run flat-footed, I’ve got nerve damage and only got half the strength in my leg - but I try not to let it interfere with my work.”

* View Guy’s work at www.guysmallman.com

Keywords: g8, journalists, summit hopping


 

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