Jury unable to reach verdict after six hours in Rockhampton Tiger Ploughshares Trial

Media Release 21 August 2013

Jury unable to reach verdict after six hours in Rockhampton Tiger Ploughshares Trial

After six hours on day three of the Rockhampton Tiger Ploughshares Trial the jury was unable to deliver a unanimous verdict. The jury was sent out twice and returned both times without a decision reached – ten voting guilty and two not guilty. The judge sent the jury home and will seek further clarification from the defence and prosecution on how to proceed in the morning.

Evidence in the landmark trial has included the now infamous WikiLeaks “Collateral Murder” footage leaked by Bradley Manning (to be sentenced tonight). The footage shows Iraqi civilians being gunned down by US military in an Apache helicopter. Baptist Minister Reverend Simon Moyle (Voices for Creative Non-violence delegate in Afghanistan) and journalist Donna Mulhearn (former human shield and human rights observer in Iraq) also gave evidence of their experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mr Dunstan (71) of the Tiger Ploughshares Action was charged with damage to Commonwealth property during the Talisman Saber exercise in 2011. Mr Dunstan assisted the now deceased Bryan Law who rode a large red tricycle across the Rockhampton airport tarmac and disabled an Australian Army Tiger Attack Reconnaissance Helicopter in a creative act of disarmament. Mr Law used a garden mattock to deliver a blow to the military helicopter. The action was inspired by the biblical prophecy of ‘Beating Swords into Ploughshares’ meaning taking action to convert killing machines such as the Tiger helicopter into ploughshares or agricultural tools that promote life.

Mr Dunstan of Peacebus.com is representing himself with the help of a legal support friend Sean O’Reilly of Brisbane.

Supporters of Mr Dunstan will gather on

Thursday 22 August

9am Procession from ‘Havachat’ 20 East St to Rockhampton District Court

9.30am Peace Vigil outside Rockhampton District Court

Photos available on request and on: https://peaceconvergence.wordpress.com

Further information

Simon Moyle 0402 857 915 or Treena Lenthall 0447 851 858

https://peaceconvergence.wordpress.com/ploughshares-trial/

FaceBook event http://www.facebook.com/events/169657596540366/191435557695903/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

Action footage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-0Du_F1P1w

Collateral Murder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rXPrfnU3G0