UK SECRETARY OF STATE FOR JUSTICE, KENNETH CLARKE, TO BE SUMMONED TO ROYAL COURTS The case for unlawful confinement of 85 year old war hero, Norman Scarth, was presented today, August 18th, 2011, by Chris Jarvis at the Royal Courts of Justice in London to Justice Wyn Williams. The presentation included a petition which had gathered some 930 names in just a few days, complete with angry comments by an outraged public. Norman Scarth attended by video link from Leeds, was in good mental health, as witnessed by all, and he also presented his case to the judge, in very respectful, knowledgeable, and intelligent terms. Leeds Prison Governor, Paul Baker, failed to respond to the summons or send a representative, as he is said to be on holiday. Justice Williams denied Mr. Scarth due process of law. He adjourned the case until next week, sending him back to the torture of prison, rather than releasing him on bail as is done for common criminals, and the looters and rioters in the streets of London. Mr. Scarth is a civil prisoner who has been denied due process, and is kept in torturous conditions in Leeds Prison, UK. On July 25, 2011, he attempted to record a court hearing in Bradford on his phone, because hearing loops had not been provided by the court, and he is hard of hearing. The proceedings had started, and he had not had chance to ask permission – permission granted to him in the past, he says, by Lord Woolf. An angry Judge Jonathan Rose of Bradford Crown Court, had him arrested immediately. He was brought back into the court room in handcuffs, sentenced the next day, and dispatched to Leeds Prison for serious offenders, which has the highest suicide rate in the UK. He has been kept in solitary confinement and denied his pain medications. He was being denied access to legal representation until today, when Justice Wyn Williams was forced to make an order that Mr. Scarth be allowed his rights to legal counsel. HM Prisons Inspector, Nick Hardwick, had written to supporters this week, saying that, as HM Inspector of Prisons, he did not have the power to intervene after he received complaints about Mr. Scarth’s torture and the fact that Mr. Scarth’s official complaints were being ignored by all, including the Prisons Ombudsman who are slow to react (and have not properly intervened) and the Prison Governor, Paul Baker. Similarly, the Parole and Probations Board’s Mr. Terry McCarthy advised, on behalf of the entire board, along with Dr. Peter Selby of the Independent Monitoring Board at the National level, said that they had no powers to intervene. All are fully aware of the unlawful torture that Mr. Scarth is enduring, and that these conditions violate both UN and EU human rights., such as the denial of pain medications for severe muscle cramping, which is torture, and there are other conditions which add to the case for wilful physical and mental torture. Mr. Scarth’s supporters are claiming wilful blindness by all concerned in the matter of Mr. Scarth’s confinement. Justice Williams ordered that Mr. Scarth be allowed to have contact with legal representation, which the prison has been denying him. However, he refused to order that Mr. Scarth be given his prescription medication, thereby forcing him to be kept in physical and mental torture for a further week at least. Justice Williams acknowledged that he had the power to release Mr. Scarth immediately on bail, as he has already served twenty-three days of a six month sentence, but he declined to do so. Chris Jarvis took issue with this, and suggested that six months in the life of a man who is almost 86 years old, is equivalent to that of fifteen to sixteen years for younger man. Justice Williams refused to release Mr. Scarth, and the public gallery, which was full, erupted in loud shouts and cries of “injustice!” and “corruption!” Justice Williams has summoned Kenneth Clarke, Secretary of State for Justice, to The Royal Courts of Justice next week, along with the Prison Governor, Paul Baker of Leeds Prison, who was supposed to have been present today, but was not. There was coverage by Russian TV, and members of the local press. The Russian news agency has taken up this matter after a press release went out from the Russian Embassy in London, in support of Mr. Scarth, WWII Arctic Convoy Veteran, because the Russians are so grateful to Arctic Convoy veterans for their efforts during World War II. This month, in Scotland and other places, these veterans are being honoured and are outraged that Norman Scarth is in prison, rather than being honoured along with them. Mr. Scarth’s supporters are calling for the public worldwide to sign the public petition to release Mr. Scarth, who is being denied his human rights and pain medications under UN and EU conventions, without any intervention from government, parliament, or any governmental body, all of which were put on notice and provided with full documentation, and all of which knowingly contravene UN and EU human rights. Mr. Scarth raised this matter himself in court. Mr. Scarth has directly petitioned Her Majesty, the Queen, for release and pardon, but there has been no word yet. Justice Williams, as agent for the Queen, was also served Mr. Scarth’s petition for a pardon during the hearing. The Governor General of Canada, had previously also sent Mr. Scarth’s petition for pardon directly to the Queen. The public is demanding a Public Inquiry into the matter. http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/free-wwii-veteran-norman-scarth-from-leeds-prison.html http://justicefornormanscarth.wordpress.com/ FOLLOW ON TWITTER @freenorman
Aug 192011
