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CAAT Media Releases Pine Gap Trial – FIRST DAY IN COURT May 30 2007 TRIAL OF PACIFISTS BEGINS IN NT SUPREME COURT The Pine Gap Four entered pleas of not guilty before the Northern Territory Supreme Court this morning. The trial began today, Wednesday 30 May, at 10am. Bryan Law, Jim Dowling, Adele Goldie and Donna Mulhearn were charged under the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952 after doing a “Citizen's Inspection” of Pine Gap military spy base in December 2005. Jim Dowling told the court he did not intend to enter a plea as he did not recognise the right of the court to try him. The judge, Justice Sally Thomas, directed the jury to interpret this as a plea of not guilty. Crown Prosecutor Mr Hilton Dembo QC, began by describing in painstaking detail the events preceding and including the Citizens Inspection of December 9 2005, none of which are under contention. Mr Dembo made note of the fact that Jim Dowling and Adele Goldie were arrested while on their knees in prayer on the roof of one of the facility's buildings, and read sections of both Bryan Law's and Donna Mulhearn's taped police interviews. “For him [Mr Law] it was not a matter of trespass but a moral issue,” Mr Dembo told the court. “He spoke [to the police] about the Iraq war and said he was there to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.” The Crown also tendered as evidence correspondence written by Mr Law in 2005, including a letter to Senator Robert Hill (then Minister for Defence) stating in part: “As Christians we are unable to stand aside and do nothing while people are being murdered in an illegal and immoral war.” Mr Dembo was at pains to remind the jury of their duty to discharge the law as it is written. “This trial will not develop into a platform for political debate,” he said. “You can't break the law. There'd be chaos in our society, in our lives. You can't just say 'bugger it, I'm going to do it anyway'”. Mr Dembo then discussed the Defence (Special Undertakings) Act 1952, saying the Crown must prove that the defendants entered Pine Gap without a permit. He did not mention the clause concluding the act which states “subsection (2) [of the DSU] does not apply if the person has lawful authority or excuse for the relevant conduct.” The Crown then called their first witness, Deputy Chief of Pine Gap Mr Michael Burgess. The session was adjourned shortly after Mr Burgess took the stand and will resume tomorrow, Thursday May 31, at 10am. EVENTS: Daily - “Celebration and Solidarity” parade by supporters from Todd St Mall proceeding north, turning into Parsons St and along to Alice Springs Courthouse cnr Parsons and Hartley Sts Thursday May 31 9.50am – courthouse steps, Hartley St Alice Springs Photo op with defendants (photos also available on request) Thursday May 31 6.30pm – John Flynn Memorial Church Hall, Todd St Mall, Alice Springs Dr Helen Caldicott addresses public meeting Saturday June 2nd 2pm (time TBC) – Pine Gap, Hatt Rd Alice Springs Public gathering of Pine Gap Four supporters including non-violent actions and demonstrations (photos available of all events on request) INTERVIEWS with defendants available – call Katie McRobert 0408 468 992 to arrange. Photographs of defendants also available, including portraits (individual & group) & action pics of pre-inspection demonstrations. For more information contact Katie McRobert 0408 468 992