New British Animal Rights Prisoner

Urgent ELP! Bulletin (15th of May 2008)

Dear friends

As some people may be aware, for the past 18 weeks six British animal rights activists have been on trial accused of "Conspiracy to interfere with contractual relationships so as to harm animal research organisation" following demonstrations against the company Sequani.

ELP has just learnt that, at the end of the trial, vegan activist, Sean Kirtley, has been found guilty and remanded into custody pending sentencing. Three other activists have been found Not Guilty whilst the fate of the other two, at this stage, is unknown.

The case against Sean is a classic case of State censorship (please see below article) and we urge everyone to send urgent letters of support to:

Sean Kirtley WC6977
HMP Birmingham Prison
Winson Green Road
Birmingham
B18 4AS
England


From: http://www.sequani.wordpress.com

Sequani Trial Update - One Remanded - Three not guilty so far…
14th May

One of our friends Sean Kirtley was remanded in custody today after a jury found him guilty of Conspiracy to interfere with contractual relationships so as to harm animal research organisation. Rose Golding, Gemma Astbury and Wendy Clark have been found not guilty. Pauline Burgess and Jo Goodyear should have a verdict tomorrow.

Sean is a tireless campaigner for animals and we hope to put a support network in place for him when he has been sentenced and assigned a prison number.

It would seem that someone was needed to make the four million pound operation tornado case look like it wasn't an astronomical waste of cash.

So what did Sean do to end up in prison, what was the evidence that took a father away from his family and ended him in prison.

Sean was responsible for the SSAT website. He never swore at people on a demonstration, he never used illegal direct action to further the campaign against Sequani. He never intimidated anyone or wrote threatening letters.

The prosecution had him pegged as the organiser of most of the demonstrations at Sequani and suppliers and used hearsay evidence and phone logs to make him seem like a hub for times and places of demonstrations.

We all try to do what we can as part of a campaign against a place like Sequani, Sean had skills which allowed him to maintain the SSAT and he was not a leader he just did everything he could to help animals inside Sequani. Police saw the website as a threat and therefore Sean as a more effective activist from the group which made him a target for anti protest police.

Needless to say, the campaign continues and with love and rage in our hearts we will battle on through the police bullshit and flawed legislation until all are the cages are empty at Sequani and the horrors that animals face inside daily stops forever.

We will update the Stop Sequani site with details of how to write to Sean etc ASAP.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Sequani Six over the past 18 weeks.

SSC

Stop Sequani Campaign


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Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
BM Box 2407
London
WC1N 3XX
England
www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk