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Company boss and teacher in Newbury court
24 May 1996
Photo Opportunity 9:30 am outside Newbury Magistrates Court Around 50 local people will assemble outside the court to support both the accused as they arrive.
Two prominent local campaigners against the Newbury Bypass - company boss Adrian Foster-Fletcher [1] and teacher Jill Eisele are due to appear at Newbury Magistates Court on Friday 24 May, on charges of "Assault on a Police Officer" and "Threatening Behaviour" respectively. Both are pleading not guilty.
Adrian Foster-Fletcher said:
"At no time during this protest have I been arrested. Furthermore, on the day of the alleged assault I was not spoken to by any police officer. The first I knew about this was eight weeks later when I was surrounded in an intimidating manner by seven uniformed officers who asked for my name and address. A month later I received a Summons in the post. Attached to it was a statement of facts which was BLANK! I have written to the police asking what evidence they have against me and have been met with a deafening wall of silence."
Jill Eisele was held in police custody for over seven hours and was not allowed home in time to pick her children up from school.
Over 775 arrests have so far been made during the protests. The vast majority have been charged with Aggravated Trespass (306) and Obstructing the Sheriff (321). Very few have been charged with violent offences. Many are expected to plead not guilty.
Ends
[1] Adrian Foster Fletcher is Managing Director of executive search company Focus Executive Ltd.
ENDS
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Sep 2008
