Bradford trial exposes police prejudice

Scan page 3

Giovanni Singh (18), Ishaq Kazi (22), Pravin Patel (20), Ahmed Mansoor (17), Tarlochan Gata Aura (25), Masood Malik (18), Vasant Patel (20), Tariq Ali (24) and Bahram Khan (19) face charges of making an explosive substance with intent to endanger life or property: and conspiracy to make an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose.

Sabir Hussain (19) and Saeed Hussain (18) are charged with conspiracy to make an explosive substance with intent Jayesh Amin (24) has been found not In the closing stages of the Bradford 12 trial, Terry Smith takes stock. Information from Leeds Other Paper.

WITH all the evidence having been taken from both defence and prosecution, the trial of the Bradford 12 Asian youths is now in its closing stages.

The eight week trial centres on conspiracy charges arising from riots in Bradford last summer.

So far Jayesh Amin has been found not guilty of both charges of making and conspiracy to make petrol bombs with intent to endanger life or damage property.

And Judge Beaumont has agreed to direct the jury to return not guilty verdicts on Sabir Hussain and Saeed Hussain on charges of manufacturing explosive substances - though they still face conspiracy charges.

Attack In his defence statement Tarlochan Gata Aura _ has admitted sole responsibility for making 38 petrol bombs for self detence. He has strongly argued that the bombs were to protect against an anticipated attack by fascist thugs.

"Given what had - = THE to endanger life or damage property.

All are pleading not guilty.

charges.

happened in Southall, in Deptford, in Coventry where Satnam Singh Gill had been stabbed to death by skinheads; given what. had happened in Walthamstow, I feared that death could have been a consequence of a skinhead attack on Bradford," he said.

"My personal experience is that the police have never defended our community. There is an absence of a will to help."

Fascist violence

Earlier in the trial the court had heard the police repeatedly argue that they knew nothing of the continuing fascist violence in the town against left bookshops and the Asian community, not of the NF, the British Movement or Column 88.

But detectives also admitted having extensive background knowledge of the politics of accused youths, subjecting them to prolonged questioning on their political views, and the involvement (nerial IITAIITAATAAYTT ball pulled ounce d unt Defence barristers argue that in the context of rumours of skinhead invasions, reverberations from Southall and shock at the murder of the Khan family in Walthamstow, the reaction of the accused Bradford youths can be understood.

"I ask you to put yourself in my shoes and ask what you would have done," 19 year old Masood Malik told the jury.

As the defence barristers began their closing speeches, Judge Beaumont ordered an end to "political speeches" in the court.

But Asian defence barrister Sighbat Kadri underlined his view that the trial is "a political trial"

And defence barrister Paddy O'Connor, too, underlined the political basis. to the events and the court cast.

"There was no second class citizenship for British businessmen and soldiers who went to India. But when Asians wanted to come here, they were degraded, pushed into the ghettoes and forced into second class citizenship.

BRADE SPIRACY And when they see racist groups on the rise and racist violence increasing, ignore it' say the same people who went over to India, and who pushed them into second class citizenship when they arrived here.

Who are you supposed to turn to? To the very people, the very state that took each of those steps?"

O'Connor pointed out that no force was used, and no injuries caused by the defendants. They were preparing for self-defence. The government of this country, he added, is making preparations - in self-defence - for the "destruction of mankind"

The case continues.

uries YOUR chances of getting a fair trial - judged by your peers - are likely to become less.

The Tories are seriously considering excluding from juries all people who have been found guilty of an imprisonable offence . . whether they were sent to jail or not.

Police and judges have long been lobbying for this since - they say - there is a problem of 'criminal types' on juries succumbing to bribes.

But in reality the fact is that under present rules if you've been sent to jail for between 3 months and five years you'll be disqualified from jury service for ten ycars.

Kach year, over 2 million people aged 17 or over are found guilty of crimes that could have a prison sentence given. Technically, stealing a milk bottle can carry a jail sentence.

But it is clear that the police, judges and Tories

Scan page 4

Socialist Organiser, Thursday 17 June 1982 Page 4

----- pull-quotes -----

lory plan to purge

JOHN HARRIS /1O CONSPIRACY -