"I Don't Like Bush Either": Splitting-the-Sky trial ends favorably! Posted by Kevin Barrett 08 Jun 2010 The Calgary Herald reports: A Chase, B.C., man will not go to jail after being convicted on Monday of obstructing a peace officer while protesting former U.S. president [sic] George W. Bush's visit to Calgary last year. Provincial court Judge Manfred Delong handed a conditional discharge to John Pasquale Boncore, 58, and placed him on probation for a year. Boncore, who uses the name Splitting the Sky, must make a $1,000 donation to a charity of his choice and pay a $50 victim fine surcharge as conditions of his probation. Trial observer and Splitting-the-Sky supporter John Duddy reports: I spent the afternoon in court listening to the Splitting-the-Sky case. He won. No criminal record, he has to make a donation to his favourite charity. Ramsey Clark spoke on behalf of the defendant; the Crown did not object. Overheard the Crown lawyer in the elevator say "I don't like Bush either".
B.C. man who attempted citizen's arrest of ex-U.S. President George W. Bush convicted
By Daryl Slade,
Former U.S. Attorney general Ramsey Clark (left) and Bush protestor John Boncore talk to reporters outside the Calgary
Photograph by: Daryl Slade, Calgary
Provincial court Judge Manfred Delong handed a conditional discharge to John Pasquale Boncore, 58, and placed him on probation for a year.
Boncore, who uses the name Splitting the Sky, must make a $1,000 donation to a charity of his choice and pay a $50 victim fine surcharge as conditions of his probation.
Court heard Boncore, who wanted to have Bush arrested as a war criminal, tried to cross a line of city police officers with mountain bikes providing security as the former president spoke at the Telus Convention Centre on March 17, 2009.
Boncore told the judge before being sentenced that if being fined $1,000, as Crown prosecutor Tracy Davis had sought, "for trying to apprehend a war criminal of the Bush administration and possibly stop torture and murder . . . bring it on."
Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, who has worked for many years in aboriginal rights with Boncore, formerly of
on his behalf during the sentencing hearing.
Outside court, Clark condemned the Bush administration for "the most unspeakable aggression since World War II" in starting conflicts in
"It's important people see that side of (Bush's regime)," said
A defiant Boncore told the judge before sentencing he wasn't there to incite violence but "believe in my heart that George W. Bush is a war criminal."
Davis, who did not seek any jail time, nevertheless called Boncore's actions that day a well-planned and deliberate action.
Defence lawyer Charles Davison had sought a discharge for his client, who had no prior criminal record and has a good standing in his community.
Delong said the issue did not have anything to do with Boncore's beliefs but what he did that day. He called the obstruction a relatively minor offence compared to similar
cases.
dslade@theherald.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The
No comments:
Post a Comment