FEDERAL GRAND JURY HEARING FOR STAR WARS 17

2 August 2001

Los Angeles - A Federal Grand Jury in Los Angeles will decide today, Thursday 2nd August 2001 if the Star Wars 17 will be indicted in connection with the delay of the Star Wars missile test at Vandenberg Air Force Base on July 14th 2001.

The federal prosecutor has chosen to pursue this closed hearing route instead of a publicly accessible pre- trial examination. Federal Grand Jury indictments are not uncommon for violent crime or drug pushing - they are uncommon for non-violent protest. Details of the allegations of conspiracy to violate a safety zone and conspiracy to violate a direct order (1) will be given by the prosecution, but none of the defendants nor defence lawyers are permitted to be present.

On the basis of the federal prosecutors evidence the Federal Grand Jury will decide what charges, if any, will be finally brought against the 15 activists and 2 journalists. Under the Federal Grand Jury powers the charges can be altered from the original, to be more or less severe.

Neither Greenpeace activists, representatives or lawyers nor the lawyers of the two journalists are permitted to have details of the deliberations unless evidence or witnesses from the Federal Grand Jury are called at a subsequent trial.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Sara Holden, Greenpeace International media officer: +1 805 291 1749

Visit the Stop Star Wars website.

(1) Conspiracy to violate a safety zone is a class D felony charge and carries a maximum five year jail term and $250,000 fine.

Conspiracy to violate a direct order is a class A misdemeanour and carries a maximum 1 year jail term and $5,000 fine.

The 15 Greenpeace activists are nationals from U.S., UK, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Australia and India. The journalists are British and Spanish.