In addition to the press release below, the following two articles by
reporters in the courtroom are worth a read (and a comment or two, to
counter some of the more ignorant ones they receive). – Jim Haber
http://blogs.lasvegascitylife.com/cityblog/2010/09/14/vegas-drone-trial-makes-history/
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/sep/14/judge-delays-decision-creech-14-drone-trial/
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702.646.4814
www.NevadaDesertExperience.org
Voices for Creative
773.878.3815
JUDGE DECIDES TO DEVOTE FOUR MONTHS TO STUDYING ISSUES AND TESTIMONY
PRESENTED IN “CREECH 14” CASE
For Immediate Release: Contact: Jim Haber 415-828-2506 (cell)
September 14, 2010 Kathy Kelly: 773-619-2418 (cell)
The “Creech 14” went to trial on September 14, 2010 in
Regional Court in
of demonstrations and vigils in April 2009, when the activists entered
Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs to highlight the serious
injustice of the
Vehicles (UAVs) in
the drones used in these expanding wars, including killing civilians
in remote controlled assassination attacks. The protesters were
charged with trespassing. Judge William Jansen scheduled the verdict
for January 27, 2011.
Judge Jansen allowed the pro-se defendants to call three expert
witnesses – former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, retired Col. and
former Embassy Official Ann Wright, and Bill Quigley, Legal Director
of the Center for Constitutional Rights.
“Targeted assassinations by Predator and Reaper drones,” said
defendant Renee Espeland, “must be catapulted into the court of public
opinion. I am bound by the law of our land that makes it my duty to
stop the killing of civilians and to protect
ordered to perform illegal acts.”
The judge limited the defense to questions strictly pertaining to the
charge of trespass. However, through carefully crafted questions, the
defendants were able to extract several key points from their
witnesses:
- Intentional killing is a war crime, as embodied in
- Drone strikes by
number of civilians.
- People have the right, even the duty, to stop war crimes.
- According to the
disobey domestic orders that cause crimes against humanity.
Defendant Brian Terrell delivered the group's closing statement.
Referring to earlier mention of a classic metaphor used in cases
invoking the necessity defense, he depicted a house on fire, with a
baby trapped inside. “The house is on fire; the baby is in the house,”
said Terrell, “We fourteen are ones who see the smoke, and will not
allow a ‘no trespass’ sign to stop us from reaching burning children.”
Terrell was speaking about the civilian deaths caused by
in
The Creech 14 include Fr. John Dear, SJ; Dennis DuVall; Renee
Espeland; Judy Homanich; Kathy Kelly; Fr. Steve Kelly, SJ; Mariah
Klusmire; Brad Lyttle; Libby Pappalardo; Sr. Megan Rice, SHCJ; Brian
Terrell; Eve Tetaz; Fr. Louie Vitale, OFM; and Fr. Jerry Zawada, OFM.
Espeland, Fr. Kelly, Klusmire, Rice, Terrell, Vitale and Zawada all
live in or volunteer regularly with various Catholic Worker
communities around the country
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