Dagenham workers leave mass meeting. case.
paign. The charges were altered before trial.
The most serious conwhich sollary charge. usually fails in cases because the prosecu tion goes over the top, was dropped. Instead the main charge was the ill-definec 'affray" (unlawful fighting in public).
The court _venue was moved from Snaresbrook in East London to the Old Bailey. This may have appeared a clampdown, fact it was the opposite. It took place because demonstrations the court were expected, defence had examined the role of potential jurors at both courts a few Asian names, the Ballev had five Der Coll The transfer forestalled a defence application avoided public debate on racially balanced juries. The final jury had five black people.
The defence campaign mounted a picket outside the court throughout the trial. No arrests were attempted. the demonstrations of sueens or the tirst dar passed without incident.
trial, the brosecution had their work Their identification evidence was tested; their witnesses were grilled and ridiculed in cross examination.
The judge allowed the defence to use "background information on racial attacks Defence police a sill.
quotes say 30? 'I was dazed when I wrote my notes.
you dazed when you wrote that?' Dhoto: JOHN HARRIS Self defence is no offence TWO HUNDRED hours' community service is all the state got from the five-week trial of the Newham 8. The convicted four were sentenced to 50 hours each when they appeared on 20 January. The convictions were a blow. But behind the results one can see how much trouble the authorities took to win the This is a tribute not to the establishment's sense of justice, but the strength of the defence camwitnesses speak about their OWI experience. The secretary of the Sikh temHe Die was a key williess. described how he had dri attackers his shop drawing his ceremonial sword when he reported the incident to the police, he was almost chargea will Hav. ing an offensive weapon revealed describec police-community relations as window dressing.
(Peckham Labour Party)
Despite this, the four defendants were convicted. . But that wasn't the end. In passing sentence the judge expressed concern about racial attacks on the Asian community.
No mention racism, of course, but neither did he praise police devotion to duty. All this was unusual.
The state could not afford an outcry by goalins the four. The judge of fered a 'community service order' which requires the consent. It was accepted that the service with the would be for the benefit of the Asian community. It is unique for the defence to conditions on accepting a sentence. It was final mark of how careful the authorities had to be.
Prosecution witnesses were grilled and ridiculed: 'Why do you now say it was 100 Asians, when your 'This statement is dated two months later. Were Taking the case as one can draw 1 e whole, following conclusions.
• Having lost in Bradford the state desperate to reestablish the principle that communities should not defend themselves. It succeeded charging affray rather than conspiracy. The legal definition of justifiable self-defence is still too narrow to be relied on.
• Defence campaigns are essential. The state would never have made so man! concessions without cerence campaign firmly based in the : community the defence NO have made headway evidence National Front and police The Call paign transformed the Newham • case into a na tional issue, despite a virtually silent press.
• Racial stereotypes mus: West lilal only Indians complain about police treatment while Asians are generall! passive is still widespread. even acclaimed Police Studies Tastitute roam has Newham has shown this is a myth.
• Struggles must be link ed.
regular support from other campaigns. 'Newham Colin Roach — one strug gle one fight' was , one o the main chants. The campaigı arallls! the Police Bill is an example of this kind of solidarity, drawing together a wide range of groups in struggle up to and including the Labour Party left.
• Lastly and most im dants showed impressive degree of solidari ty. They weren't prepared to run individual defences they did not apologise fo what they had done. Immediately afterwards they said if the need arises they willad same They will deserve our sup port then too.