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Today, the day after World Anti-McDonald's Day global protests, the judges
at the Court of Appeal refused to overturn the McLibel trial judge Justice
Bell's decision to force us to start our closing speeches on Monday, 21st
October.
THEY MADE THIS DECISION: Despite the fact that McDonald's have had every advantage in the case, and still have the EXTRA big advantage of us having to sum up our case before they do theirs... Despite the fact that not only will this be the longest case in British history (10 more court days), but also THREE times as long as any previous libel trial (21 more court days)... Despite the fact that we have had to represent ourselves, and have had no Legal Aid to assist with organising our documentation, administration and research, note-taking etc.. Despite the fact that there are 40,000 pages of documents and 15,000 pages of testimony to read, study and analyse.. and a whole host of controversial legal issues to research and incorporate into our speech... Despite the fact that we were denied a jury trial in March 1994 because the Court of Appeal decided that this was going to be such a 'complex' case (at that time it was estimated by McDonald's legal counsel to be '3 - 4 weeks' in length) that MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC (A JURY) WOULD BE UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND EVALUATE THE EXPERT EVIDENCE. We are members of the public, yet are expected to do just that. Despite the fact that we are mentally and physically exhausted.
You have to feel sorry for McDonalds who obviously feel their case is so weak that they need to use every available legal trick and possible advantage to give them a chance of some kind of legal 'victory' - an empty one, if the judge gives them it. HOWEVER, THE PUBLIC ARE NOW ABLE TO READ THE FACTS.... IN THE LEAFLETS HANDED OUT IN THE STREET, THE EVIDENCE AVAILABLE ON McSPOTLIGHT, AND THROUGH WHATEVER THE MEDIA DEIGN TO MENTION ABOUT THE STAGGERING ADMISSIONS AND INFORMATION COMING OUT OF THIS TRIAL. WITH WORLD WIDE PROTESTS THIS WEEK OUTSIDE McDONALD'S STORES CAMPAIGNERS ARE ENABLING THE PUBLIC TO JUDGE FOR THEMSELVES. Campaigners are providing a valuable public service, countering the annual $1.8 billion dollar advertising and marketing budget of the McDonald's Corporation. We, the defendants, send our support and solidarity to you all. We have ALL won this legal fight whatever the individual 'verdict' of one judge, not because of 'justice' in the courts, but because YOU have not been silenced. And in fact the protests continue to spread and grow. Keep up the struggle against injustice, intimidation and Corporate propaganda, and for a world based on co-operation and sharing, not exploitation and profit. Dave Morris & Helen Steel |