26 SENTENCED AFTER PLEADING GUILTY LONDON U.K.

21 CURRENTLY IN JAIL

1 RELEASED ON APPEAL

3 FOUND NOT GUILTY

MORE SENTENCING THIS FRIDAY 26TH AT ISLEWORTH CROWN COURT

On March 25th, Layla Lahouidek was released from prison after a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice. She had her

sentence for violent disorder dramatically reduced. See here for more information.

On 24th March, charges against 24-year old protester Jake Smith were dropped as the prosecution offered no evidence

against him at his trial due to start on 24th March. The Crown declined to present evidence after admitting that there had been

an episode caught on camera, in which Jake was assaulted by the police. Read the statement written by the legal team on

behalf of Jake Smith. See here for more information.

On the week beginning Monday 15th March, the first 2 cases of defendants to plead not guilty were heard and resulted in not

guilty verdicts.

——————–

APPEALS

Several families have begun working on appeals with Imran Khan. The first appeal was heard on Thursday 25th March, during

which Appeal Judges rules that the defendant should not be serving a custodial sentence.

Further Unjust Sentences for Gaza Protestors - Friday 19th February

All the young men sentenced at Isleworth County Court yesterday afternoon for Violent Disorder during Gaza protests started harsh stints behind bars last night...

All the young men that were sentenced at Isleworth County Court on Friday received custodial sentences.

Two people had their cases adjourned awaiting pre-sentence reports. One man got a suspended sentence because it was accepted by the Judge that imprisonment would have a severe impact upon his health due to his long term mental illness..

My friend from Leeds got 12 months... for throwing one glass bottle ! This is despite following mitigation: fact that it was accepted he did nothing else during the entire demonstration (it came out in court he was monitored by police for hours following the throwing of the bottle). It was accepted by the Judge that he had intended to hit the gates of the Israeli embassy in a symbolic protest and that he did not intend to hit a police officer's shield. Also fact that pre-sentence probation report recommended non-custodial sentence, and his "exemplary character" attested to by countless family (including mother in law) and community references. Lowest sentence I am aware of from sentencing thus far.

SENTENCING BREAKDOWN

- ADULT AT TIME OF OFFENCE
Sentencing starts at 2 years for all adult guilty pleas (revised use of R v Chapman)
Sentencing (after supposedly factoring in mitigation) ranged from 12 months to 2 years

- UNDER 18 AT TIME OF OFFENCE*
Sentencing ranged from 8 to 12 months detention and training orders
Argued by one defence Barrister that entencing cannot go beyond 18 months because 18 months established as maximum for more serious offence of Riot.

*based on R v Ghafoor which says time of offence is more important than time of conviction (in this case time of guilty plea) when deciding whether someone is a youth or an adult for purposes of sentencing

COVERAGE
http://fitwatch.blogspot.com/2010/02/harsh-sentences-for-gaza-protesters.html

Support Gaza protesters facing heavy sentences

Posted on February 17, 2010 london u.k.

93 arrested, 72 charged, 10 jailed so far

The Israeli bombardment of Gaza of 27th December to 18th January, provoked passionate protests across the UK. The familiar mass demos of the anti-war movement were supplemented by large spontaneous break-away demos and a wave of university occupations. The police used indiscriminate baton charges, kettles and heavy surveillance, in an effort to impose their control on the movement.

In the months that followed, these repressive police tactics began to take a less visible form, with police carrying out numerous dawn raids. A total of 93 people have been arrested and 72 charged. Some of these were denied communication with their solicitors and subjected to physical and psychological abuse. Most of the arrested were young Asians below the age of 19, with some as young as 12 years old. Almost all have now been charged with “violent disorder” and 10 people have already been jailed for 15 months – 3 years.

Many of those arrested have not received adequate legal advice and have been approached by police officers outside court under Section 62 of the Immigration Act, with threats to revoke their immigration status.

In this climate of intimidation and isolation, and in spite of flimsy evidence, 50 people have pleaded guilty and are due to be sentenced, starting from the 12th February at Isleworth Crown Court.

Judge Denniss who has taken on all the cases, has referred to the notoriously heavy sentences given out after the Bradford riots.

These are the actions of a police state. Solidarity is urgently needed.

For more information and ideas about what we can do visit: nomoreisolation.wordpress.com
Email: nomoreisolation (at) yahoo.com