The Vestas 4 – Jackie (aka Jax), Luke, Anna and Misty – appeared at Southampton magistrates court today, Tuesday 29 September. They are charged with aggravated trespass in connection with the cranes protest at Southampton docks on 15 September. The four pleaded not guilty and a trial date has been set for 16/17 March – 2010! Contrary to details given earlier, this will be before a magistrate and not a jury, since the maximum possible prison sentence is three months – still no laughing matter.
We spoke to Jax by phone. She told us that the judge had been quite scathing about the bail conditions and had agreed to ease them considerably.
For example, they had been excluded from large areas of Southampton, unclearly marked on a map. That restriction has been eased; the only restriction on their movement is that they cannot go on Vestas property either in Southampton or on the Isle of Wight. Jax at least was heading back to the roundabout camp outside the Vestas plant, Newport this evening, to catch up with ex-Vestas workers and other campaigners.
The Vestas protest goes on.
