Devon GM protesters in court today
17 November 1998
Devon GM protesters in court today
By FWi staff
TWO women charged in connection with the destruction of a genetically modified crop in Devon are appearing before magistrates again in Totnes today (Tuesday).
Jacklyn Sheedy and Elizabeth Snook were among 12 people arrested after protesters ripped up a GM maize crop at Hood Barton Farm, near Dartington.
The two women first appeared in court in August where they pleaded not guilty to causing £605,000-worth of damage to the experimental trial plot.
Since that hearing, the two women have been living under a 10pm-6am curfew, have had to report daily to their local police station, and are banned from entering Devon except to appear in court.
Solicitor Mike Schwartz, who is defending, said it was unusual for defendants with no prior convictions to face such stringent bail conditions.
“Theres nothing to show that theyre more likely than anyone else facing a single charge to commit further offences,” he said. “They have been singled out because they commited acts of a political nature.”
Magistrates today are thought likely to set a date for a Crown Court trial. But there may be a further delay in case the 10 other people involved are also charged.
Totnes residents have collected 2000 signatures on a petition stating that the destruction of the test crop was in the public interest.