Jury trial another injustice - it's time to drop the charges!

There will be a protest outside the Court of Appeal on Thursday morning at 8am in support of the Urewera 18 defendants who have lodged an appeal to get a jury trial.

"The High Court in Auckland ruled last year that the trial would be by judge-alone, and the Court of Appeal will hear the arguments on Thursday," said Peter Steiner, spokesperson for October 15th Solidarity Wellington.

"From the day of the raids, the case has been characterised by human rights violations and fundamental injustices; trial by judge-alone is a continuation of this horrific pattern. This is an egregious miscarriage of justice.

"When Solicitor-General David Collins said that terrorism charges could not be brought, that should have been the end of this case. Instead, the government has wasted millions of dollars more in continuing the prosecution of political activists on trumped up gun and gang charges. It is truly absurd.

"With each passing day more and more of the long-standing rights that are part of the NZ justice system are being wiped away by John Key and his National party mates under the guises of 'security' and 'efficiency'. In reality, they are interested in criminalising poor people, propping up the rich and terrorising us into obedience not about genuine justice.

"Now is the time to restore the rights of the Urewera 18 defendants. It is time to drop the charges entirely," Peter Steiner said.

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