Friday September 18, 2009, 1:35 am
Sean Kirtley a Sequani activists convicted and sentenced to four and a half years in prison for simply updating a website has been found not guilty at appeal and released from prison.

He served 16 months and is now free to fight on against vivisection.

No justice, no peace, sue the police and we are pretty sure Sean will make sure that West Mercia police and NETCU are funding the campaign against Sequani for many years to come.

Welcome back to the front line Sean
---------------------------------------------------------
I submitted the link to Stop Sequani Campaign - for all who don't know what it is. There is no press release from Sean yet.
---------------------------------------------------------
Thank you everybody who supported Sean!!!

Judge Who Sentenced Sean Kirtley Was Fan of Blood Sports
http://www.care2.com/news/member/457397809/808462

Serious Implications for Freedom of the Net and Civil Rights as Activist Jailed for 4 ½ Years
http://www.care2.com/news/member/457397809/781859

Friday September 18, 2009, 2:14 am
Good news Joanna!!

Friday September 18, 2009, 2:20 am
sorry wrong story

Friday September 18, 2009, 2:27 am
Wonderful news!!

Friday September 18, 2009, 2:27 am
Sequani Limited, Bromyard Road, Ledbury, HR8 1LH United Kingdom
for map click the link:
http://sequani.wordpress.com/about-sequani/map-location/

Friday September 18, 2009, 3:02 am
Thanks for this wonderful news Joanna.

Friday September 18, 2009, 3:05 am
well done sean

Friday September 18, 2009, 3:11 am
Joanna, thank you for this great news. Your original news story was posted just before I joined Care2. I've left a comment on the website:
=================================================
Bravo to Sean Kirtley and his legal team. When Sequani claims that activists who air Sequani's dirty laundry on the internet are violating democratic rights one starts giggling hysterically. Freedom of speech is a democratic right. Since when is the publising and protesting of cruelty to animals non-democratic? The judge's bias - i..e his killing of defencelss animals (a keen hunter) should have precluded him from hearing this case.

I am sorry that Sean spent such a long time behind bars, and wish him only the best. Bravo Sean, and thank you for being the voice of the voiceless.

Friday September 18, 2009, 3:23 am
Realy pleased to hear this good news today, thanks Joanna.

Friday September 18, 2009, 3:28 am
The legal system should change and innocent persons in prison should receive money back for all the humiliation and being in prison for not committing a crime. Good for Sean, now he can proceed with his humanitarian work.

Friday September 18, 2009, 3:33 am
Really pleased that he's free at last - but that's 16 months of his life unjustifiably stolen from him. The "justice" system stinks to high heaven!

Friday September 18, 2009, 3:53 am
That's the system - innocent people are in jail while real criminals are free!!
Look what happens in Austria:
"Despite countless national and international protests, the Austrian Ministry of
Justice has decided to go ahead with the charge of 278a against the animal
advocates held last year for over 100 days in remand custody. Given that the
most expensive, extensive and intensive police investigation carried out so far
during Austria's second Republic resulted in no concrete evidence being found,
it was to be feared that the charge of 278a would be used in desperation.

More than a year ago the Austrian Home Office issued press releases stating that
connections “must” be made between numerous cases of damage to property,
arson, gas attacks and bomb threats and the the accused activists. But, now the
charge looks completely different: all allegations made against Dr Martin
Balluch, head of VGT contained in the final police report have been dropped.
Together with two other VGT campaigners, he is now accused of knowingly
supporting a criminal organisation via legal activities.

Examples cited as evidence for the above are as follows:

Organising legal campaigns
Giving Talks
Taking part in a sit-in at a battery farm
Having anti-hunting leaflets at home
Letting an animal activist from abroad stay over night
Attending meetings to plan campaigns
Cross posting details of a national day of action against P&C online
Attending an international gathering in Holland
Giving VGT advice on IT issues

The final police report details around 35 criminal campaigns which the
“criminal organisation” supposedly carried out between 1996 and 2008. These
included the VGT campaign against battery eggs, the Four Paws campaign against
foie gras and the RespekTiere campaign against the sale of live lobsters. These
are no longer considered illegal and in addition, demanding that companies end
cruel practices to animals is no longer considered as intimidation."

Friday September 18, 2009, 3:54 am
"he is now accused of knowingly
supporting a criminal organisation via legal activities."

he he

we all are 278a then....

Friday September 18, 2009, 7:18 am
Great News!

Friday September 18, 2009, 8:44 am
Noted. While the injustice cannot ever be fully "righted", at least Sean now has his freedom and that is superb news, indeed. Thanks so much for getting the word to us asap, Joanna!

Friday September 18, 2009, 8:48 am
Thank you Joanna! Great news! Yes!

Friday September 18, 2009, 9:07 am
i can't understand how any country can criminalize protesting. if even one person stops buying p&g products because of what i've told them, have i caused harm and damaged the company? how can they draw the line at anything other than violent activity.

Friday September 18, 2009, 9:22 am
Thank you for this news Joanna. He spends 18 months in jail while the real crimanals are free? The justice system sucks....

Friday September 18, 2009, 11:08 am
You are so right Stephanie, that;s what always gets me. Real Animal abusers walk, usually with a slap on the wrist whilst Sean Kirtley spends 16 months in jail- for what, being a animal advocate moreless! How about jail terms for all the real scums/animal abusers out there!

Friday September 18, 2009, 12:37 pm
Wonderful news! Stop criminalizing animal rights activists!!!

Friday September 18, 2009, 12:51 pm
This is FANTASTIC news!!!!! :)

Friday September 18, 2009, 9:44 pm
WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday September 19, 2009, 6:05 am
great news joanna

Saturday September 19, 2009, 1:43 pm
Great , thanks !!

Sunday September 20, 2009, 5:42 am
I hope he wins the biggest lawsuit to further the fight, how does the gov't get away with imprisoning people and not having to pay when proven wrong? he got more time for nothing than so many child and animal abusers would serve (if any at all).
great news, there is hope for them all.

Wednesday September 30, 2009, 8:18 am
Noted.Good news.TY Joanna.