Three protesters fined

Press, 17 March 1982, Page 10

Three protesters fined

PA Auckland Three protesters were fined and one jailed for contempt of court when 13 women who were arrested at Bastion Point appeared in the District Court at Auckland. Twelve were charged with trespass and one faced two charges of using insulting language when they appeared at the hearing, which was punctuated by chants and screams. As soon 1 as the court began, a noisy chorus of protest chants and songs rang out from the holding cells. Later, about 12 supporters in the

[ foyer outside joined in the chorus. Judge Callander apologised for the interruption “from our rowdy friends underneath" and asked counsel to move closer to the Bench to make submissions. As the first defendant appeared in the dock several supporters in the public gallery stood up. Judge Callander told them to sit down or they would be cleared from the court. As the second of the defendants appeared, the supporters again stood in the public gallery and were cleared from the court. They then stood in the foyer doing

action songs peppered with hakas and chants in time with those in the ceils. Judge Callander entered pleas of not guilty for several of the defendants who refused to plead and detained four, for contempt, until the afternoon session of court. Judge Cal’ander fined one defendant $75 and sentenced another to five days imprisonment when they reappeared and refused to apologise for their behaviour. The two others were fined $25 for contempt after they said they apologised. All 13 were remanded on bail to May 19 for defended hearings.