A First Amendment
By Court Observer

As the Sheppard/Whittle trial closed the pair failed to attend the last day of trial.

The abuse of criminal law to stem debate and the certainty of prison left them with no option but to seek political asylum in the United States.

The law is already skewed towards prosecution(persecution) in such cases, but pre-trial rulings against the defence made the case plunge towards medieval or third world notions of justice. Naturally in such circumstances the persecution gaining a string of convictions.

As the trial ended, vexatious emanations between the Attorney General or cronies thereof and persecution still sought retrials where verdicts weren't reached, not that the persecution needed any encouragement in this regard.

A spectacle un-wholesome, unnecessary and un-British tinged with political hatred.

American citizens assume British subjects live under the same legal protections as themselves and when hearing of draconian public order acts and Crown Courts extending their tentacles and remit into their territory, they find themselves in the three States Americans least like to be. The States of Shock, Horror and Disbelief!

The American first amendment reads

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Quality English, not legalese and you don't have to be a brief to know that Sheppard's Public Order trial drives a coach and horses right through it!

Let's hope Americans think so too!