{"id":10321,"date":"2021-01-19T13:32:05","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T13:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.craigmurray.org.uk\/?p=65367"},"modified":"2021-01-19T13:32:05","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T13:32:05","slug":"my-trial-and-freedom-of-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/01\/19\/my-trial-and-freedom-of-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"My Trial, and Freedom of Speech"},"content":{"rendered":"
My trial for Contempt of Court in my reporting of the Alex Salmond trial is on 27 and 28 January at the Court of Appeals in Edinburgh. Contempt of Court charges can be brought by a judge or by the Crown. These are being brought by the Crown – an important point. It is a strange charge. The potential penalties are very serious – up to two years in prison and an “unlimited” fine. Yet it is not a criminal offence nor a criminal trial, and despite the life-changing penalties there is no jury; but the judges do have to rule on the facts to the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt.<\/p>\n
I am being charged with contempt of court on three separate counts:<\/p>\n
a) Publication of material likely to influence the jury<\/strong><\/p>\n b) Jigsaw Identification of Protected Identities<\/strong><\/p>\n c) Reporting the Exclusion of a Juror<\/strong><\/p>\n These are some of the key issues involved:<\/p>\n a) Publication of Material Likely to Influence the Jury<\/strong><\/p>\n b) Jigsaw Identification<\/strong><\/p>\n c) Juror Exclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n AN APPEAL FOR HELP<\/strong><\/p>\n I hope that brief account gives some idea of the legal arguments involved. But everybody whose head is not buttoned up the back knows this is not really what the case is about. This is about the ability of those in power in Scotland to use the law<\/a> to persecute their political opponents<\/a>. They tried it on Alex Salmond, they tried it on Mark Hirst – both blowing up in their faces – and now they are trying it on me.<\/p>\n If there were a jury, I would not lose one moment’s sleep. But there is not. I am buoyed by the fact that what the Alex Salmond and Mark Hirst trials show is that while both Police Scotland and the Crown Office may stink of rotten corruption at the top, Scotland’s judiciary is still independent. It is worth noting that the simply astonishing admission of the Lord Advocate and Crown Office to malicious prosecution<\/a> recently in the Rangers case is going to cost the taxpayer almost \u00a350 million, once all costs are in and awards paid out. The police and legal costs for the Alex Salmond case total some \u00a310 million wasted.<\/p>\n I call on journalists worldwide who support freedom of speech to pay attention and to cover this trial. The case is HMA vs Craig John Murray in the Court of Appeals, 27 January. The emails for registration are\u00a0communications@scotcourts.gov.uk, <\/span><\/span> onlinehearingaccess@scotcourts.gov.uk and judicialcomms@scotcourts.gov.uk – please copy to all three<\/span><\/span>. I also ask you to press specifically for video access, not the dreadful quality sound only phone-in.<\/p>\n I also call on NGO’s, political associations, community bodies and elected representatives worldwide to apply to register for observer status using the same email details.<\/p>\n Once registered, journalists and observers should ask the court for copies of the court documents. I am severely constrained in giving out documents at present.<\/p>\n Members of the public will be able to register to listen live. I am afraid this will very probably be the same poor quality sound only link down the telephone. It also involves giving the court some registration details, and may incur call charges to a London number. Registration details will be posted here<\/a> by the court shortly – where you will also find details for Martin Keatings’ vital case on Scotland’s right to hold an independence referendum without Boris Johnson’s permission.<\/p>\n I appeal for as many people as can do so to register and listen in. Your support is vital to me both morally and practically. I can see no reason why registered members of the public should not inquire to the court as to the availability of the documents. Justice is supposed to be seen to be done.<\/p>\n Long term readers of my blog know that for well over a decade we have campaigned against injustice, ill-treatment, imprisonment and detention of many, both the famous and the obscure. I therefore feel little shame in asking everyone now to try and join in the same cause on my own behalf.<\/p>\n —————————————————–<\/p>\n Unlike our adversaries including the Integrity Initiative, the 77th Brigade, Bellingcat, the Atlantic Council and hundreds of other warmongering propaganda operations, this blog has no source of state, corporate or institutional finance whatsoever. It runs entirely on voluntary subscriptions from its readers – many of whom do not necessarily agree with the every article, but welcome the alternative voice, insider information and debate.<\/p>\n Subscriptions to keep this blog going are gratefully received<\/a>.<\/p>\n Choose subscription amount from dropdown box:<\/p>\n\n
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\nForgive me for pointing out that my ability to provide this coverage is entirely dependent on your kind voluntary subscriptions which keep this blog going. This post is free for anybody to reproduce or republish, including in translation. You are still very welcome to read without subscribing. <\/p>\n