Peace activist acquitted

Tony Iltis, Melbourne

On November 24, peace activist Reta Kaur was acquitted in the Melbourne Magistrates Court of criminal damage after she wrote "The killing has started" in red paint and placed red hand prints on two statues outside the US consulate last year. She also avoided a restitution bill of over $9000 for the alleged clean-up costs.

The incident occurred after Kaur heard of the outbreak of war on Iraq on March 20, 2003. She and other activists from Women for Peace had been maintaining a vigil outside the US consulate.

Peter Noble, one of a team of lawyers representing Kaur on a pro bono basis said: "The decision is a victory for justice because it demonstrates the proper application of legal principle to the unusual circumstances of this case, and has rightly resulted in an acquittal."

Kaur was found guilty of a secondary charge of failing to give police her address and fined $100 without a conviction being recorded.

In a letter to supporters Kaur said: "I'm much relieved that I was believed by the court. The criminalisation of my grief and shock at the bombing of Iraq, the desire of the police to put me through the legal process, has been a very stressful and alienating experience."

From Green Left Weekly, December 1, 2004.

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From GLW issue 608