Scott Richard White: The Final Invader
last updated at 1312 ACST Friday 03 March 2006
|
|
On
Tuesday 10th January 2006, Scott entered a late guilty plea to the
charge of
“Intentionally disturbing the Legialative Assembly while it (was) in
session”. Justice Brian Martin sentenced Scott to
10-weeks’ jail suspended fully.The
suspended sentence is conditional that Scott not associate or
communicate with fellow members of NAPNT. Click
here to read the Chief Justice's sentencing remarks. This page is
maintained by NAPNT for its archival value. |
Background
Scott's case
Updates
NAP media alerts
Latest news reports
Contact Scott
More resources
Stay informed on this case
Scott's case
Updates
NAP media alerts
Latest news reports
Contact Scott
More resources
Stay informed on this case
Background
Scott
White is a former soldier and
the father of two beautiful
children. Scott was born in Brisbane but spent most of his life in
Darwin (had it not been for Cyclone Tracy, Scott would have been born
in Darwin). He is one of the NAP's founding members and he has an avid
interest
in promoting and protecting human rights. Scott faces jail for his role
in the NAP 'Parliament Invasion' of 2002. He will appear in the NT
Supreme Court for a jury trial commencing July 18.
Scott was among nine Napatistas who entered the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory whilst it was in session on May 14, 2002 to protest against the draconian 'drug house' laws. One person, Andrew Deacon, pleaded guilty at the first instance. Andrew was sentenced to two weeks’ jail but this was reduced to a good behaviour bond on appeal.
The Napatistas were charged with breaching section 61 of the NT Criminal Code, “disturbing the legislative assembly whilst it was in session”, a charge that has never been used before.
Seven people pleaded not guilty and went through a 16-day hearing in the Darwin Magistrate’s court in 2003. Two changed their plea to guilty late in the piece and the remaining five were found guilty by Magistrate Dick Wallace. The latter five were sentenced to between fourteen and twenty-one months' jail, suspended after four or five months. NT Chief Minister Clare Martin applauded the stiff sentences given to the Napatistas.
Four people appealed the sentence and conviction and one person appealed the sentence only. The appeal against conviction before Supreme Court Justice David Angel failed.
Three Napatistas are now appealing their conviction to the full bench of the Supreme Court and are waiting for a date for this to be heard. The appeal against the excessive sentence cannot be heard until the conviction issue is resolved.
One person, Ema Corro, was also charged with an ‘aggravated assault’ charge and was found guilty in the NT Magistrate’s court. This conviction was recently overturned by the Supreme Court and this matter will be reheard in the Magistrate’s court. You can read the Chief Justice’s decision in this matter here.
One Napatista has already served jail time as a result of this action and in November 2004, three Napatistas spent two days in jail by ‘mistake’ as a result of this case.
[back to top]
Scott's case
Scott missed out on the Magistrate’s court hearing as he was interstate when it started. In any case, he was never summonsed by the NT police. In March 2003, he was arrested at his home in Tasmania and extradited to the NT, where he was released on bail. Nine months later, after a brief hearing in the Darwin Magistrate's Court, Scott was committed for trial in the Supreme Court by the anti-NAP Magistrate David Loadman.
Two weeks were set aside, commencing July 18, for Scott's trial to proceed before NT Chief Justice Brian Martin.
This trial date has subsequently been cancelled. Scott now has a directions hearing on July 28 and a date for a pre-trial hearing will be set then.
[back to top]
Updates
Conditions prove CJ Martin out of line - January 13, 2006
Another directions hearing for Scott - September 3, 2005
NAP threatened with contempt proceedings
NAP's formula for victory
Win-loss for sixth ‘invader’
The trial of the century has been delayed!
They found the lost tape
[back to top]
NAP media alerts
Parliament Invader escapes jail term - January 12, 2006
Contempt threat for NAP
Parliament Invasion: Candidate in court
Parliament Invasion commemorated in Darwin
Loadman must go! Drug fiends’ call for Magistrate to leave the bench
For Napatistas, 2005 looms as another year of court cases
Evidence missing from Parliament Invasion case
Darwin drug law reform campaigners in court this week
[back to top]
Scott was among nine Napatistas who entered the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory whilst it was in session on May 14, 2002 to protest against the draconian 'drug house' laws. One person, Andrew Deacon, pleaded guilty at the first instance. Andrew was sentenced to two weeks’ jail but this was reduced to a good behaviour bond on appeal.
The Napatistas were charged with breaching section 61 of the NT Criminal Code, “disturbing the legislative assembly whilst it was in session”, a charge that has never been used before.
Seven people pleaded not guilty and went through a 16-day hearing in the Darwin Magistrate’s court in 2003. Two changed their plea to guilty late in the piece and the remaining five were found guilty by Magistrate Dick Wallace. The latter five were sentenced to between fourteen and twenty-one months' jail, suspended after four or five months. NT Chief Minister Clare Martin applauded the stiff sentences given to the Napatistas.
Four people appealed the sentence and conviction and one person appealed the sentence only. The appeal against conviction before Supreme Court Justice David Angel failed.
Three Napatistas are now appealing their conviction to the full bench of the Supreme Court and are waiting for a date for this to be heard. The appeal against the excessive sentence cannot be heard until the conviction issue is resolved.
One person, Ema Corro, was also charged with an ‘aggravated assault’ charge and was found guilty in the NT Magistrate’s court. This conviction was recently overturned by the Supreme Court and this matter will be reheard in the Magistrate’s court. You can read the Chief Justice’s decision in this matter here.
One Napatista has already served jail time as a result of this action and in November 2004, three Napatistas spent two days in jail by ‘mistake’ as a result of this case.
[back to top]
Scott's case
Scott missed out on the Magistrate’s court hearing as he was interstate when it started. In any case, he was never summonsed by the NT police. In March 2003, he was arrested at his home in Tasmania and extradited to the NT, where he was released on bail. Nine months later, after a brief hearing in the Darwin Magistrate's Court, Scott was committed for trial in the Supreme Court by the anti-NAP Magistrate David Loadman.
Two weeks were set aside, commencing July 18, for Scott's trial to proceed before NT Chief Justice Brian Martin.
This trial date has subsequently been cancelled. Scott now has a directions hearing on July 28 and a date for a pre-trial hearing will be set then.
Like the hearing in the Magistrate's
court, Scott's trial is set to be a major undertaking. Chief Minister
Clare Martin and a number of other senior NT politicians (many of whom
have just been forced into early
retirement) will appear in the witness box. Five
Government Ministers appeared as witnesses after they were
summonsed by the NAP in the original hearing.
Stop press: On Tuesday 10th January 2006, Scott entered a late guilty plea to the charge of “Intentionally disturbing the Legialative Assembly while it (was) in session”. Justice Brian Martin sentenced Scott to 10-weeks’ jail suspended fully.The suspended sentence is conditional that Scott not associate or communicate with fellow members of NAPNT. Click here to read the Chief Justice's sentencing remarks.
Stop press: On Tuesday 10th January 2006, Scott entered a late guilty plea to the charge of “Intentionally disturbing the Legialative Assembly while it (was) in session”. Justice Brian Martin sentenced Scott to 10-weeks’ jail suspended fully.The suspended sentence is conditional that Scott not associate or communicate with fellow members of NAPNT. Click here to read the Chief Justice's sentencing remarks.
[back to top]
Updates
Conditions prove CJ Martin out of line - January 13, 2006
Another directions hearing for Scott - September 3, 2005
NAP threatened with contempt proceedings
NAP's formula for victory
Win-loss for sixth ‘invader’
The trial of the century has been delayed!
They found the lost tape
[back to top]
NAP media alerts
Parliament Invader escapes jail term - January 12, 2006
Contempt threat for NAP
Parliament Invasion: Candidate in court
Parliament Invasion commemorated in Darwin
Loadman must go! Drug fiends’ call for Magistrate to leave the bench
For Napatistas, 2005 looms as another year of court cases
Evidence missing from Parliament Invasion case
Darwin drug law reform campaigners in court this week
[back to top]
Casuarina
candidate to be tried on invasion charges
ABC, June 15, 2005
ABC, December 1, 2003
Green Left Weekly, June 25, 2003
ABC, June 20, 2003
Scott can be contacted on his mobile 0429 198 618. Alternatively, you can send him an email.
Letters of solidarity and support will be much appreciated. Snail mail can be sent to the following postal address:
Scott's case
C/- NAP
PO Box 701
Parap, NT 0804
Australia
[back to top]
More resources
Scott's NAP blog
Email from Scott's partner, Meredith Delandelles - 10 Mar 2003
Yahoo search for 'Scott White' on napnt.org
Yahoo search for 'Parliament Invasion' on napnt.org
The NT Chief Justice Brian Martin
'Parliament invasion' court transcripts
The latest NAP article on Scott's case (with heaps of links)
The NT Supreme Court
How to find the NT Supreme Court
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Department of Public Prosecutions
The Constitution of Australia
Wikipedia on free speech
Letter from NT Legal Aid's Ian Read regarding Scott's sentencing. Dated 16 January 2006. [pdf version]
Conditions of Scott White's 12 January 2006 sentencing [jpg file]
Crown Facts against Scott, january 2006. [word version]
[back to top]
Stay informed on this case
Hot Links
Current Issues
The Napatistas
need your support!
need your support!
NAPNT Web Portal
- Homepage of NAPNT
- About NAPNT
- Chat Room & Email List
- Contact NAPNT
- Disclaimer
- Donate to NAPNT
- Get Active!
- Hate Mail
- Image Gallery
- Links
- Main Articles Index
- NAPNT Court Transcripts
- NAPNT in the Media
- NAPNT Media Alerts
- NAPNT Online Store
- NAP Posters
- NAPNT Published
- Retractable Syringes
- Search napnt.org
- Site Feed (xml)
- Site Map
Napatista's Blogs
- Dissident Dancer
- Fiona Clarke
- Gary Meyerhoff
- Rob Inder-Smith
- Rob's Ravings
- Scott White
- Stuart Highway
External
Links
Next Smoke-in
The 27th Smoke-In
13th May 2006
12noon - Raintree Park
Protest against the drug house laws and incarceration rates in the Territory. Click here to read more about our smoke-ins.
The 27th Smoke-In
12noon - Raintree Park
Protest against the drug house laws and incarceration rates in the Territory. Click here to read more about our smoke-ins.
This website is best viewed with Mozilla Firefox. Get your free
download today!
