5 guilty of NT House invasion

Five people who invaded the Territory Parliament while it was sitting in Darwin a year ago were found guilty yesterday of disturbing the House of Assembly.

Magistrate Dick Wallace said the May 14, 2002 incident was "the most serious disturbance of the Legislative Assembly in the history of the Territory".

Yesterday afternoon marked the end of the long hearing during which many witnesses including Chief Minister Clare Martin were called.

Mr Wallace said: "In my view, the elements of the charges are clearly made out against the defendants who had no authorisation, justification or excuse for their actions.

"I find the case proved against all five defendants."

Before the court were Gary Meyerhoff, Stuart Highway, Emma Birkeland-Corro, Robert Inder-Smith and Michael Lambe.

The magistrate said the next stage was submissions on sentencing and invited the five to get legal representation.

He adjourned the hearing to today.

Mr Wallace said he would hear sentencing submissions from Ian Read, lawyer for Luke Masters and Aaron Stallard-Bryce, who each pleaded guilty to disturbing the Assembly.

Mr Wallace, giving reasons for his decision, said the five he found guilty were associated with a group called the Network Against Prohibition (NAP).

Before Parliament was the drug house legislation, increasing powers under the Misuse of Drugs Act, which the NAP opposed.

"They intended to make a show, bring their case to the wider world by upsetting the deliberations of the Assembly," the magistrate said.

"I am satisfied the five… did acts which were absolutely designed to disturb the Assembly with the purpose to publicise the cause for which NAP was brought into being."

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Fri, 23 May 2003
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Bob Watt
Copyright: 2003 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/