Peace activists returning to court to reclaim costs of collapsed Weapons Expo prosecution
Peace Action Wellington
Tuesday 21st March 2017, peace activists will be returning to court aiming to recover costs for the Crown’s recent
failed prosecution against them. Fifteen peace activists who were arrested at the 2015 New Zealand Defence Industry
Association (NZDIA) Weapons Expo had their charges dismissed or were found not guilty in February this year. During the
trial which lasted a week, the Crown’s case crumbled and resulted in zero convictions. Eleven of the peaceful
protesters, against whom no evidence was found, are seeking to reclaim costs associated with the failed charges brought
against them.
An application has been submitted to Judge Ian Mills for costs to be returned to the peace activists who had been
wrongly charged with trespass and obstruction. The application details the many missteps in the failed case against
them. All of the activists steadfastly maintained their innocence. “Some of us were offered diversion,” says Emma Cullen
of Peace Action Wellington, whose charges were dropped “But we chose to fight them instead because we knew we were
innocent! This case hung over us for over a year and a half but completely collapsed in the courtroom.”
Many of the activists felt the Police continued the prosecution as a deterrent to peaceful protest, despite the low
chances of conviction, the minor charges and the lack of public interest. “The process here has been really used as a
punishment which is unacceptable and a huge waste of our time and taxpayer’s money. We have the right to protest and
we’ll continue to take action against the annual Weapons Expo. We know the real criminals were the arms dealers inside
that building, not those of us peacefully standing outside getting arrested” continued Cullen.
The activists have also filed a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Authority (IPCA) regarding police
behaviour, arbitrary arrest and detention regarding this protest. The ruling of the IPCA awaits the outcome of these
proceedings.
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