Wednesday 28th July 1999 Immediate release PRESS RELEASE genetiX snowball campaigners avoid imprisonment at High Court trial on Wednesday 28th July 1999 Today, Wednesday 28th July 1999, at a hearing of the High Court in London[1], Mr Justice Michael Burton found four people in contempt of a court order when they uprooted Monsanto's Genetically Modified (GM) crops at the agricultural trade show 'Cereals 99' on June 16th 1999. He ordered a suspended sentence of one month on the organizer of the action Martin Shaw and ordered that all four defendants be named on the injunction against genetiX snowball. This injunction restrains the members of genetiX snowball from uprooting or interfering with Monsanto's GM crops. Monsanto applied for the court hearing and supplied evidence to the court. The defendants did not contest that they had uprooted the GM plants as they had acted openly. The uprooted GM sugar beet, were planted last year at the site of Cereals '99 on Vine Farm, Wendy in Hertfordshire. On the morning of June 16th 1999, the opening day of Cereals '99 the four defendants peacefully uprooted the GM plants and bagged them up for disposal as a biohazard. They were not arrested, and stayed at the site to account for their action until security staff escorted them away. The action to removed the GM plants, known as 'Cereals '99 snowball' also involved four other people who distributed information and explained the action to farmers and Monsanto staff who had witnessed the action. The four defendants are: Jill Bee, aged 51 an art teacher from Letchworth, Hertfordshire; Martin Shaw, aged 34, a genetics campaigner from Manchester; Alex Potts, aged 21 from Manchester who is undertaking teacher training and Rod Melia, aged 30 from Manchester who is seeking work as a gardener. The judge in his summing up recognized that the defendants had NOT undertaken their action in a violent manner and said that the hearing was not about establishing the argument as to the desirability of GM crops. The decision as to the sentence imposed upon the defendants was one made solely by the judge and was not part of Monsanto's submission. The Judge decided that Martin Shaw had acted recklessly by ignoring the injunction against genetiX snowball and so imposed a more severe sentence upon him than the other defendants. The court hearing lasted about two hours and the defendants were represented by barrister Jeremy Chipperfield and solicitor Desmond Murphy. Monsanto were represented by solicitors Row and Maw. Monsanto decided not to claim (legal) costs or compensation for the damage to their genetically modified (GM) sugar beet from the defendants. It is believed that this decision was made to promote a positive public relations stance. Monsanto initially obtained an injunction against five women who launched the genetiX snowball campaign on July 4th 1998. The injunction was extended in September 1998 to include a sixth person, the campaign's media liaison and the members of the 'unincorporated association of genetiX snowball'. In April of this year the six defendants were granted a full trial after a day and half hearing. Since then Monsanto have secured an appeal hearing which may prevent a full trial. Today's trial will not prejudice the appeal hearing which is expected in September this year. Martin Shaw, one of defendants said "Genetically modified food will not feed the world but lead instead to control of the entire food chain by corporations like Monsanto" CONTACT: Andrew Wood Tel: 0973 953 446, page: 07654 247 502 ENDS Editors Notes [1]. The hearing took place, from 10.30 a.m. at room 37 West Green Building, Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL. Reference case number 991031 Monsanto PLC vs Jill Bee and others. Picture Editors Notes [1] Supporters gathered by the steps of Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London and the four defendants appeared in a photo opportunity with placards reading 'Corporate power imprisons us all'. [2] Pictures of the Cereals '99 snowball action are available from photographer Rob Todd, telephone: 07977 275 563. For pictures of the defendants outside the High Court contact court picture agencies or Rob Todd. genetiX snowball A campaign of nonviolent civil responsibility One World Centre, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS Tel: 0161 834 0295 Fax: 0161 834 8187 Browse: http://www.gn.apc.org/pmhp/gs Press liaison: Andrew Wood 0973 953 446 or page 07654 247502