Monday November 1st 1999 
Immediate release
PRESS RELEASE


BBC's 'Archers' GM court battle almost over,
genetiX snowball's court battle just beginning


In the Radio 4 soap 'The Archers' the jury retires to 
consider their verdict upon direct activist Tommy Archer 
for cutting down a genetically modified crop. Meanwhile 
five women who took similar action prepare for a hearing at 
the Court of Appeal, London on November 8/9th[1].  
Superficially the court dramas seem similar but the case of 
the 'Archer 1'and 'Snowball 5' are very different: in one 
the prosecution is the Crown, in the other $24 billion 
biotech giant Monsanto.


                         Archer 1              Snowball 5
                         --------              ----------

Defendants:              Thomas Archer         Zoe Elford, Melanie Jarman,
                                                Kathryn Tulip, Rowan Tilly,
                                                 Jo Hamilton (*1)

Company:                 Beale Tech            Monsanto PLC

--- Legal ---
Court date:              25 Oct. onwards       8/9 Nov.

Prosecution/ Claimant:   The Crown             Monsanto 

Charge/ Claim:           Criminal damage       Trespass to goods,
                                               unlawful interference 
                                               with commercial interests

Law:                     Criminal              Civil

Court:                   Crown Court,          Court of Appeal,
                          Felpersham            London

Jury:                    Yes                   No (3 Judges)

Legal aid?:              Yes                   Discretionary

Experts testifying?:     Yes                   None permitted

Sentence/ Remedy         6 months              lifelong injunctions,
                          to 1 year jail        unlimited damages (*2),
                                                 legal costs

--- The Action ---
When:                    May 1999              July 1998

GM crop:                 Oil Seed Rape         Oil Seed Rape

Alledged damage:         £42,000               £5,150 (+ unlimited damage 
                                                to business)

Location:                Borcestershire        Oxfordshire

Style:                   Balaclavas, at night  Open, during daylight

Nonviolent:              No, assault           Yes, peaceful


*1 A sixth defendant, the campaigns press officer was 
joined to the legal action on a separate occasion.

*2 Reduced to the value of the plants £250 in April 1999.


ENDS

Press liaison: Andrew Wood: 0973 953 446, page: 07654 
247502


Editors Notes

[1] The court case will start on Monday November 8th or 
Tuesday November 9th and last 1 or 2 days. Final 
confirmation will be given by the Royal Courts of Justice 
from Friday November 5th . Call 0171 936 6000 quote QBENI 
99/0758/1 Monsanto PLC vs Rowan Tilly and others.

[2] A Media Briefing is available from Tuesday 2nd November 
by calling the Press Liaison.


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
Press liaison: Andrew Wood 0973 953 446 or page 07654 
247502