Dear friends,

Today (Tuesday) started off on its usual high note: a procession to the court, and today a special treat – hearing a recording of a Martin Luther King speech, then we four walked into the courthouse to the supporters group singing (as they do every morning) “oh when the Saints, go marching in, oh when the saints go marching in…” which is very embarrassing for us, but always brings a smile to the police, the security guards and every one else in the courthouse.

But it turned out to be a hard day, it was emotional and it was frustrating – but it’s over, we’re still smiling and now the journey continues.

The day started off with Adele giving evidence in the box, as always she spoke from the heart and became emotional as she shared passionately about her motivations for going into Pine Gap. She put forward evidence about how the Nuremburg principles and their call for citizens to take action inspired her to act to stop the war machine by the incursion at Pine Gap.

I then went into the box to give evidence, and being the last of the four, it seemed that Crown Prosecutor Dembo had lost his patience.

He objected often; and in particular at the times when I was trying to share my eye-witness testimony from Iraq. He was very sensitive about this. I was the only witness not allowed to tender any documents, or photographs. Not one.

Needless to say I felt very ripped off, but I did my best to point out that my action at Pine Gap was a direct response to my experience of war in Iraq. I held up pictures of my boys at the shelter, of Baby Noura and the other children at the orphanage. I named their names and explained that these are the people I am defending.

I talked about the other influences on my action such as my faith, the tradition of non-violent direct action and the fact that I made a promise to the Iraqi people to speak the truth and it was my responsibility to do something. Later I hope we can send out transcripts of all our evidence for you to read. One of our lawyer friends is amazed at how much we have been able to bring into the courtroom about the war, some days it seemed as if it was the war, not us, that was on trial. That was the point, and one of the benefits of being unrepresented.

After evidence, Mr Dembo rose to bring on the argument of whether our defences would be allowed to go to a jury. Despite an excellent presentation by Bryan and further submissions from Adele and myself, the judge, as expected, upheld Mr Dembo’s argument.

So she will not allow the jury to consider any legal defence when they consider their verdict.

We finished off cross-examination and that was it. The judge will not allow us to call our four expert witnesses. It’s over now but for the closing addresses tomorrow. We knew the judge wanted to end this trial before Friday, and her rulings today will ensure that will happen.

During the cross-examination Mr Dembo lost his patience with everyone. He was clearly flustered by our straightforward answers and our refusal to accept that the land is owned by the Commonwealth. We stated that it belonged to the traditional owners who gave us permission to be there.

Mr Dembo lost his cool and at one stage made some crude, sarcastic remarks about Jim crying that made the whole courtroom cringe. I reckon we might have won some votes from the jury at that moment.

So… first thing tomorrow, Mr Dembo will give his closing address followed by us. I will then apply for a permanent stay of the trial, on the basis we have not able been able to have a fair trial. That means (if successful) that the trial will be put in the ‘too hard basket” and be over. We will lose that `application, but it is important to apply, (especially if we want to appeal).

So, then we have one hope left.

The jury.

Twelve human beings who have listened to what we have had to say.

It’s now up to them. It’s likely they will start deliberation mid-morning and they may reach a verdict anytime tomorrow afternoon and tomorrow night.

Please pray that they follow their conscience. For those who don’t pray: all fingers and toes crossed please!

But after saying that, our major goal is not to have a not guilty verdict, our goal is to expose Pine Gap, to draw attention to its function and to debate its role in the war.

Our goal is not to ‘win’, our goal is to stay human.

Please read other reports from our blog: www.pinegapontrial.blogspot.com

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1949068.htm

Today’s media release below

We will send news as soon as possible after we get it!!

Love

Donna