NAP's renewed call for Loadman to go

Biased Darwin magistrate David Loadman came under more pressure yesterday to resign or be sacked.

The crowd attending the Network Against Prohibition’s 23rd Smoke-in at Raintree Park was shown a copy of a transcript of Loadman’s comments in a matter involving a long-standing Territorian man who said the matter was “killing me”.

The man, William, said he had needed an interpreter in court but Loadman had refused to allow it.

He criticised the Legal Aid Commission and, later, produced an extract of Loadman’s decision, which included words to the effect that William’s matter would continue “without an interpreter”.

William said Loadman and the court system was killing him and that he felt betrayed by a corrupt judiciary system.

“I am innocent,” he said angrily.

NAP numbers people such as William among those who have been subjected to courtroom brutality and injustice NT-style.

NAP members Rob Inder-Smith and Ema Corro have had Supreme Court judges uphold claims of bias against the same magistrate. A guilty verdict handed down by Loadman last year in a case involving Inder-Smith, was ruled in the Supreme Court to have been appallingly biased.

Justice David Angel upheld Inder-Smith’s appeal in January this year.

Loadman's December 2002 conviction of Ema Corro for aggravated assault was overturned by Chief Justice Brian Martin in May.

William’s talk was a highlight of NAP’s Christmas in July - NAP’s 23rd Smoke-in for Human Rights, which is held every second month in Raintree Park.

Santa handed out presents and the audience was told about the havoc being wrought in the name of the US-led Australian-backed War on Drugs.

Darwin City Council was condemned for its continued refusal to issue a permit to NAP to conduct the event.

NAP’s next Smoke-in is on September 10 – the end of the Fourth Darwin International Syringe Festival.

- HEMSLEY RAJALA