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Open Letter - Kay Gilderdale trial
In recent days thoughts have been turning to the imminent trial of Kay Gilderdale and people have been asking for details and what they can do for the best.
The latest details I have are on Sophia Mirza's site here http://www.sophiaandme.org.uk/
Annette Barclay went to the trouble of contacting the Court service in Lewes for the very latest information. It is likely to be in Court room 1 at the Lewes Combined Court.
Most likely to be heard from 10am or 10.30am but they won't know for sure until the day before.
There is a website here.
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/aboutus.htm
Now, it has just struck me, that this is about to happen on Tuesday but that isn't the end of it. The trial is expected to last 3 weeks! Although no one has ever been prosecuted for assisted suicide and the Director of Public Prosecutions' guidelines make it unlikely, a guilty verdict could carry a maximum jail sentence of 14 years.
I know that Kay would like support from family and friends and to show solidarity by wearing a white carnation. I know that she would NOT want any extraordinary demonstrations, certainly not vocal or distracting in anyway. If you are uncertain what best to do, I would suggest nothing without Kay's approval first. If you cannot contact her directly I will be pleased to forward any e-mails.
It should never have come to this and it should not be proceeding because it is not in the public interest. The Judge, at a previous hearing, invited the Crown Prosecution Service to drop the case. Unfortunately they declined.
But the CPS can drop it at any time - even before the appointed date.
This is why I suggest that the best thing anyone can do is to write to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, and ask for him to intervene (as he did in the case of the parents of Daniel James) and call for the case to be dropped because it is not in the public interest.
Several of us have written already but I'm sure that the more who do, the greater will be the chance of getting the desired result.
If you are not very good at composing letters, just keep it as simple and as unemotional as possible. Address it to Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, 50 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7EX. Start Dear Mr Starmer and stress that you do not want to discuss any details about the case but wish him to hear your plea that he should intervene and have the case dropped because it is not in the public interest. If anyone still finds it difficult, they can e-mail me and I will help. But please do it now.
You can also post your letter and look at other examples on the Facebook page Prosecuting Kay Gilderdale is NOT in the PUBLIC interest here
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=68630803256&ref=ts#/group.php?gid=103575747984&ref=ts
This has been the greatest example of injustice I have ever known in the M.E. Community and I hope we never see the like of it again.
John
drjohngreensmith@mefreeforall.org
Dr John H Greensmith
ME Free For All. org
Open Letter - Kay Gilderdale trial
In recent days thoughts have been turning to the imminent trial of Kay Gilderdale and people have been asking for details and what they can do for the best.
The latest details I have are on Sophia Mirza's site here http://www.sophiaandme.org.uk/
Annette Barclay went to the trouble of contacting the Court service in Lewes for the very latest information. It is likely to be in Court room 1 at the Lewes Combined Court.
Most likely to be heard from 10am or 10.30am but they won't know for sure until the day before.
There is a website here.
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/aboutus.htm
Now, it has just struck me, that this is about to happen on Tuesday but that isn't the end of it. The trial is expected to last 3 weeks! Although no one has ever been prosecuted for assisted suicide and the Director of Public Prosecutions' guidelines make it unlikely, a guilty verdict could carry a maximum jail sentence of 14 years.
I know that Kay would like support from family and friends and to show solidarity by wearing a white carnation. I know that she would NOT want any extraordinary demonstrations, certainly not vocal or distracting in anyway. If you are uncertain what best to do, I would suggest nothing without Kay's approval first. If you cannot contact her directly I will be pleased to forward any e-mails.
It should never have come to this and it should not be proceeding because it is not in the public interest. The Judge, at a previous hearing, invited the Crown Prosecution Service to drop the case. Unfortunately they declined.
But the CPS can drop it at any time - even before the appointed date.
This is why I suggest that the best thing anyone can do is to write to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, and ask for him to intervene (as he did in the case of the parents of Daniel James) and call for the case to be dropped because it is not in the public interest.
Several of us have written already but I'm sure that the more who do, the greater will be the chance of getting the desired result.
If you are not very good at composing letters, just keep it as simple and as unemotional as possible. Address it to Keir Starmer QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, 50 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7EX. Start Dear Mr Starmer and stress that you do not want to discuss any details about the case but wish him to hear your plea that he should intervene and have the case dropped because it is not in the public interest. If anyone still finds it difficult, they can e-mail me and I will help. But please do it now.
You can also post your letter and look at other examples on the Facebook page Prosecuting Kay Gilderdale is NOT in the PUBLIC interest here
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=68630803256&ref=ts#/group.php?gid=103575747984&ref=ts
This has been the greatest example of injustice I have ever known in the M.E. Community and I hope we never see the like of it again.
John
drjohngreensmith@mefreeforall.org
Dr John H Greensmith
ME Free For All. org
