BY SAM KING
ADELAIDE — The trial of 10 refugees charged with breaking out of the Woomera detention centre in June began here on October 24, but the defendants are confident they can beat the charges and were bolstered by a demonstration by 25 supporters outside.
Defence lawyer Greg Mead told supporters outside the magistrates court that prosecution statements were generally inconsistent and that prosecutors had found it difficult to establish who exactly had set fire to the different wings of the detention camp.
He also said that, even if found guilty, the defendants could only be deported if they were sentenced to serve more than a year — which could only happen if they were found guilty of arson, the most difficult of the charges to prove.
Mead also said that the protest outside the court, organised by the Democratic Socialist Party, could have a positive impact on the trial's outcome, as it would force the prosecution to take positions which would not spark further public outrage.
Protest organisers said that their action was not simply to support the 10 defendants but also to back the closure of the detention centres and the release of the asylum seekers held in them.
Further protests will take place on and after October 31st. To get involved in the campaign, phone the DSP on (08) 8231 6982 or email <adelaide@dsp.org.au>.