Jury trial in Northern Territory Supreme Court starts October 10 - Legalise Cannabis for Medical Use in Canada by Mark x

Four members of the Darwin-based drug law reform group, the Network Against Prohibition (NAP), will represent themselves in a trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court which starts tomorrow.

Nicolette Burrows, Ema Corro, Robert Inder-Smith and Gary Meyerhoff face the charge of `business invasion' after they peacefully occupied the electorate office of NT Chief Minister Clare Martin on August 1, 2002.

The defendants were among a group of NAP members and supporters who were demonstrating against the `drug house' laws, which came into force on that day.

If they are found guilty, they face up to seven years imprisonment.

The NAP members were the first people to be charged with the `business invasion' offence, introduced by the Martin Government after the repeal of the Territory's mandatory sentencing laws for property offences.

Ms Corro was incarcerated on Friday for her involvement in other peaceful NAP demonstrations.

NAP spokesperson Gary Meyerhoff said: "This ongoing harassment and intimidation facilitated by the NT Labor Government is starting to take a toll on our members and supporters.

"Over the past three years, NAP members have been charged with more than 100 offences by the NT Police.

"They have been threatened by police, attacked and assaulted by police at peaceful demonstrations and unlawfully arrested and imprisoned. One NAP member was even run off the road recently by a police `divvie' van."

Late last year, three NAP members were arrested by `mistake' and spent two days in maximum security in Berrimah jail.

Mr Meyerhoff said: "None of us are physically or mentally up to this trial."

The trial has been set down for one full week, followed by another NAP trial which is due to commence on October 17.

For more information call Fiona on 0415 16 2525 (+61 415 16 2525 from os), Crown Prosecutor Nathan Crafti on (08) 8999 7533 (+61 8 8999 7533 from os), the Department of the Chief Minister on (08) 8901 4000 (+61 8 8901 4000 from os) or see: http://www.napnt.org

To read more about the peaceful occupation of Clare Martin's office see the following article by Ema Corro: http://www.napnt.org/pages/US-bases.htm

To view photographs of the demonstration, see the following links: http://www.napnt.org/images/PICT012.jpg http://www.napnt.org/images/PICT014.jpg http://www.napnt.org/images/PICT015.jpg http://www.napnt.org/images/PICT016.jpg http://www.napnt.org/images/PICT017.jpg http://www.napnt.org/images/PICT019.jpg http://www.napnt.org/images/PICT020.jpg http://www.napnt.org/images/PICT021.jpg

For more information about the NT `drug house' laws see: http://www.napnt.org/drughouse.html

To view this media alert with links see: http://www.napnt.org/2005/10/drug-law-reform-activists-face-trial.html