Peter Bethune's trial starts Thursday 27 May

[Tank]

Actually - I hope that it goes further and that not just Pete is held accountable - but the entire group of eco terrorist calling themselves seasheppard

[nodrog:Me]

Actually - I hope that it goes further and that not just Pete is held accountable - but the entire group of eco terrorist calling themselves seasheppard

if you painted them with shoe polish, it would be hard to tell the difference between them and those somalian pirates.

[Max Preload]

Be nice to get him home to his family.

He doesn't have one now - she finally got sick of his childish bullshit.

[rainman]

He doesn't have one now - she finally got sick of his childish bullshit.

Well, that's sad.

[Max Preload]

Well, that's sad.

I bet she doesn't think so.

[Brian d marge]

Thats a quick trial , who did he blow in Jail ( must have been a few)

Stephen

[rainman]

I bet she doesn't think so.

I think you'll find grown-ups do find things like this to be sad, almost regardless of the circumstances.

Thats a quick trial , who did he blow in Jail ( must have been a few)

Thought it was on Thursday? Or do you mean he's getting to trial soon after inarceration?

[Tank]

From Stuff:

Anti-whaling activist Pete Bethune, imprisoned in Japan, believes he will be found guilty and fears a lengthy jail sentence.

New Zealander Bethune, 42, is awaiting a trial on charges of trespass, causing injury, vandalism, carrying a knife and obstructing commercial activities.

He was arrested in February when he boarded Japanese whaling vessel Shonan Maru 2 in the Southern Ocean, hoping to make a citizen's arrest of its captain for allegedly ramming and sinking his ship.

The Ady Gil sank after colliding with the Shonan Maru 2 the previous month while it was harassing the whaling fleet.

Bethune, who faces up to 15 years in jail, believes there is a 95 per cent chance he will be convicted at his trial, which starts on Thursday, and worries he will be sentenced to a long prison term, the Sunday Star-Times reported.

Speaking from the Tokyo Detention Centre, he said authorities have treated him like a terrorist or a "psychopathic killer."


Bethune had been taken back to the Shonan Maru to re-enact the boarding, accompanied by a security detail of more than 100 people, he said.

"I had a hood over me, like I'm a psychopathic killer. It was bizarre."

Bethune holds little hope of a suspended sentence and deportation to New Zealand.

.... conts on stuff.co.nz


So hes not holding out much hope then huh?

Im guessing that with 100 security staff for a quick outing they are worried that the sea sheppard people may have tried something - that cannot be a normal level of security.

I reckon he might be right - I wouldn't be holding out for a good outcome. Im also guessing he should have got off the boat when given a chance:

"Mr McCully said .... My understanding is that he went on board to make a point, knowing that there would be some consequences that flowed from it, and that he is not only not seeking to be removed, but is refusing to be removed at this stage."

Oh well - thats what happens when you keep poking a bear.

[Mully]

He'll be in jail for a while, I suspect.

It'd be a big loss of face for the Japanese to suspend the sentence.

[Swoop]

I chuckle at the charge of "having a knife".
What self respecting sailor would not have one in a pocket at all times?

[Tank]

I chuckle at the charge of "having a knife".
What self respecting sailor would not have one in a pocket at all times?

Indeed - but its a matter of using your head.

Having a knife while out sailing - a good idea.

Having a knife while committing a crime, illegally boarding a foreign boat in international waters - not so smart.

[Bald Eagle]

Indeed - but its a matter of using your head.

Having a knife while out sailing - a good idea.

Having a knife while committing a crime, illegally boarding a foreign boat in international waters - not so smart.

illegally boarding a foreign boat in international waters - not so smart - indeed that's the real issue

[Swoop]

its a matter of using your head.

Having a knife while committing a crime, illegally boarding a foreign boat in international waters (and holding an invoice) - not so smart.

Well, it is asking a lot of him to think about all that at once.

[Tank]

Well, it is asking a lot of him to think about all that at once.

Meh - hes got a bit of spare time to think about it at the moment. Hind-sites a bitch

[Brian d marge]

I think you'll find grown-ups do find things like this to be sad, almost regardless of the circumstances.



Thought it was on Thursday? Or do you mean he's getting to trial soon after incarceration?

Soon after incarceration ,,, it took 4 months just for a speeding ticket to get processed

Stephen