Summary. Conclusion of cross-witnessing of 1st prosecution witness, Thomas O'Brian , police photographer. 2nd witness introduced, Detective Sergeant Cassidy, MoD police. Discussion about whether or not Francis Boyle could give evidence on Friday. Decision expected tomorrow.
The proceedings did not start until 10.40am. First there was a discussion about the interpretation. The jury were send back out again whilst this was discussed. Everyone was told to speak a bit more slowly and leave pauses for the interpreters.
The defence advocates then asked if the court would give permission for Francis Boyle to be heard on Friday, even if the PF hasnt finished his case. The PF said that he hadnt had time to consider his answer to that issue because he had been deluged with documents. He wasnt yet entirely satisfied of the relevancy of all the documents that had been lodged. He said that he needed time to consult the authorities to see whether it was competent to insert Francis Boyle at that point in the proceedings.
The sheriff said that she would leave it for the PF to consider overnight and she would make a decision after hearing his submission on Thursday morning. (just as Francis Boyle comes in to land at Glasgow Airport)
The jury was then brought back in and they resumed the cross examination of Thomas OBrian, the police photographer.
John Mayer asked him whether he was surprised when he got to Loch Goil, that he had to take a boat and at how big Maytime was. He said that OBrian knows how large and complex Maytime is, but the jury cannot tell that from the photographs. Mayer asked O+IBk-Brian to look at the Tridenting It Handbook, one of the productions because it had been left behind on the barge. Mayer then asked OBrian to look at the diagram of the Trident submarine, and explain how the Trident submarine would compare to the length of the court. OBrian replied that a Trident submarine would be seven or eight times the length of the court.
John McLaughlin asked OBrian about what was written on the four banners that the women had left on Maytime. They were unfurled and displayed in court.
Mr OBrien admitted that he was denied access to certain areas of Maytime.
The second witness was called, Detective Sergeant Cassidy from the MoD police. He had been summoned to Coulport to interview the three women at 3am. The PF took Cassidy through a transcript of the taped interviews. The three women were completely open about what they had done and explained their actions.
Sergeant Cassidy stated that 64 year old pensioner Ellen Moxley from Dollar had described how they got onto the barge Maytime and said:
"We soon realised the windows opened very easily and got through without any difficulty. We took whatever equipment we could find and threw it overboard"
She added:
"Trident is illegal under international law and therefore we were simply obeying international law."
Angie Zelter had said to the police sergeant:
"It's our duty to disarm every part of the nuclear chain and that's what we were doing."
Trial adjourned for the day. The Sheriff requested an early start on Thursday (tomorrow) but the clerk replied that the women would not arrive from prison until 10am. Mayer pointed out that the women had to spend around three hours travelling in each direction, and asked why some alternative arrangement could not be made. The Sheriff replied that it was out of her control.