Women remanded over crop damage


06 August 1998


Women remanded over crop damage

By FWi staff

TWO women charged with causing £605,000 damage to an area of experimental genetically-modified maize have been remanded on bail.

Environmental protesters Elizabeth Snook and Jacklyn Sheedy appeared yesterday at Kingsbridge Magistrates Court, Devon.

The two women were charged in connection with damage to the GM maize crop at the centre of a recent high court action brought by organic farmer Guy Watson.

Mr Watson failed in his attempt to get the crop banned. Judges rejected his claim that the maize would cross pollinate with Mr Watsons nearby crop of organic sweetcorn.

But environmental activists vowed to take the law into their own hands and uprooted the maize on Monday night.

The two women were among 12 people arrested by police following raids on houses in the West Country, Sheffield and London. The remaining ten people were released after questioning.

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