WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IT'S YER BANGED UP...

Issue 109, 28th February 1997

SCREWED!

"While we are here let's not forget the ones we left behind. I stayed up all night talking through the wall last night to a man who is innocent. But he is buried alive. The list of names is endless. These people are still where we were this morning; they are still fighting for their innocence. They have got nothing."
- James Robinson, one of the Bridgwater Three.

As the release of the Bridgwater Three after eighteen years wrongful imprisonment sent shock waves through the judicial system people are asking could it happen again? The authorities say it couldn't but as Paul Foot, author of the book "Who Killed Carl Bridgewater" said: "Why has it taken so long for this grotesque injustice to be righted? the answer is that the judicial and police authorities are extremely reluctant to admit it is possible that their procedures can go terribly wrong."

With 60,000 prisoners in the UK - and rising (that's one in every thousand) - more miscarriages are likely to occur. Justice, the legal human rights organisation, estimate each year, some 200 innocent people are sentenced to lengthy terms of imprisonment.

In fact things could be getting worse. The recent Criminal Procedure and Investigation Act approved rules to limit defence access to material, unless the police or prosecution say that it is relevant. And yesterday (Thursday) Home Secretary Michael Howard published 33 recommendations in Review of the Criminal Justice System, further limiting the right for a trial by jury for certain offences. Already public order offences such as obstruction of the highway and the use of threatening or abusive behaviour do not carry the right to jury trial.

Rough Justice

In 1988 Raphael Rowe, Michael Davis and Randolph Johnson were found guilty of the `M25 Murder'. During the trial even the judge said "So much of the evidence is itself tainted for one reason or another, and there is considerable uncertainty and inconsistency in important areas". Such as the fact that police were looking for three men, two of whom were white, one with fair hair and blue eyes - while those convicted are all black! M25 campaign, 28 Grimsell Park, Camberwell, London SE5 OTB. Phone 0171 735 2985.

KENNY CARTER was nearing the end of a short sentence for robbery when he was accused of murdering a cellmate - who tragically had hung himself in the night. Despite no forensic or fingerprint evidence, or evidence of a forced hanging, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. HMP Belmarsh, Western Way, Thamesmead, London, SE28 OEB

JOSEPHINE SMITH was convicted of murdering her husband in 1993. The court had heard evidence of how she had suffered many years of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Her plea of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility was rejected by the judge who recommend a 12 year sentence. She said "I killed him to get away safely, to get the children away safely with no fear of him coming after me." Justice for Women, 55 Rathcool Gardens, London N8 9NE

Prison life is extremely boring, so letters are generally the highlight of the day. Don't know what to say? Talk about your life, things you are up to - just be careful not to say anything that will get anyone into trouble. Most prisons do not allow letters in without a return address. Some get stopped, read, "diverted" and "lost" so it's often worth sending the first letter via recorded delivery as these have to be opened in the prisoner's presence. Most prisoners are not the "mad beasts" portrayed by the tabloids, they are ordinary people, and the only way they are going to know you support them is to tell them so GET WRITING.

KIT WILSON (involved in anti-road protests) is being held on remand at KG 3464, HMP Bullingdon, Patrickhaugh Rd., Arncot, Bicester OX6 OPZ He's to appear in Reading court on 20th March charged with affray, a charge disputed even by two security guards from Fairmile. On the 17th he will appear at Weymouth Magistrates Court for obstruction charges. He'd appreciate messages of support and people to turn up at his court cases.

The Bench Bunch

A 1984 survey of 150 Stockport Magistrates revealed an average age of 53 dealing with offenders over half of whom were under 21. The reason for the imbalance lies partly in the voluntary nature of the service, which can attract Ladies Bountiful with time on their hands and deter workers whose employers are reluctant to give them time off for magisterial duties. Selection procedures have also been to blame. The names of members of local advisory committees are keep secret in order to protect them from lobbying, which simply means they are lobbied by those "in the know". (There are several examples of undue influence by organisation like the Freemasons or Rotary). Too much attention has in the past been paid to recruitment from local political parties, business organisations and charities, and too little to the claims of welfare and minority groups. For example, in 1988 there were just 455 (1.9%) black Magistrates.

Women

Source: Women Against Rape.

Contacts

• Conviction fight for framed prisoners, produce mag 75p + SAE to PO Box 522, Sheffield, S1 3FF
• The Law newspaper for lawyers, advice workers, campaigners etc. Send £1 for a sample copy to PO Box 3878, London SW2 9ZE
• Anarchist Black Cross network of autonomous prisoner support groups, produce quarterly mag "Taking Liberties" 60p + SAE to 121 Railton Rd., London, SE24 OLR
• Peace Prisoner Support, c/o 16 Sholebroke Ave., Leeds, LS7 3HB 0113 2629365
• Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! publish a quarterly newspaper with good prisoner pages SAE to BCM Box 5909, London, WC1N 3XX

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Work Unfair

The Tommorow's People Trust is not part of the tacky '70s sci-fi TV series about teenage telepaths, but Grand Metropolitan's vehicle for Workfare. Its London HQ was invaded by claimants this week; pissed off at its involvement in Project Work slave labour pilot schemes - the work for dole scheme coming your way soon.

Thirty people occupied the building, with one cop trying for Crap Arrest of the Week, when he threatened to nick the owner of the banners for criminal damage to the windows (caused by the tape sticking them up!) After being ejected from the building, they leafleted GM staff and passers by. Thay said: "Any firm, charity or council involved in Project Work can expect to be targeted by angry claimants. With this occupation we warn any company thinking of getting involved in Project Work: think again." More Project Work pilot schemes are starting at the end of March, including one here in Brighton.

Groundswell has called a National Day of Action against Project Work for 2nd April.

• Remember those Job Seekers Allowance directives telling people they could be ordered to smarten up/get their hair cut or face losing their benefit? One claimant decided to complain using the `Telling us about it' forms available from all DSS buildings, after being told he was scruffy. The Customer Services Manager for Brighton benefits agency responded "I am sorry if you were offended when a member of staff commented on your appearance. Obviously, appearance is each individual person's choice and I am sure the comments were only meant to be constructive." It's good to moan.

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