TEK THE BISCUIT

Today (1st) sees the preliminary hearing in Haverfordwest Magistrates Court for those arrested and charged during the bust of the UK Teknival in Pembrokeshire this May (see SchNEWS 727) – and the numbers answering charges has risen dramatically from six to as many as seventeen.

The case has been deemed too complex for the local magistrates to deal with alone, so it’s now going before a district judge ‘for direction’. What this means exactly for those charged (apart from yet another long and expensive journey to Wales) isn’t yet clear, but a top UK defence lawyer has warned that Haverfordwest is a ‘kangaroo court’, and says, ‘there’ll be no justice there’.

Justice is looking pretty thin on the ground for one of the defendants in particular, who will have to appear in court without any legal representation whatsoever. It turns out that the local Haverfordwest solicitor he’d got to help fight his case neglected to process his claims for legal aid in time, despite them being submitted months ago. Effectively this means that his case can’t go to a decent solicitor who is an expert in the field. Without fair representation, it has much less chance of being thrown out of court.

With already draconian licensing laws – and worsening - it’s becoming harder to hold gatherings and create festivals and entertainment away from the confines of the commercial mainstream.

Those on charges face heavy fines or even imprisonment – and were already plunged into great debt by costs incurred when the Teknival was busted and closed down, wirh gear confiscated and vehicles impounded. The main trial is planned for November. Watch this space for developments and join the Facebook group ‘Drop the Charges over UKTek’ to show your support.

* This Saturday (2nd) there will be a big benefit night in Bristol to raise funds to support the UKTek arrestees. A mass of 15 soundsystems will join forces at the Lakota, 6 Upper York St, Bristol, for at night of thumping dance music from jungle and techno to trance, 10pm-6am, £10 on door.

* See www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141577695869973&ref=ts www.dalerave6.co.cc