Polish Anti-Fascists

The trial of 13 people in Poland for the killing of a fascist in self-defence (as reported in Organise! 45) has taken place. The result was that 8 were freed, and 5 were convicted. They are planning to appeal against their sentences, and are therefore requesting financial support to help pay for this. They also need money as they all have large fines to pay.

Send messages of support to the 5:

Tomasz Wilkoszewski (15 years for murder); Gregorz Pasak (3 years 6 months); Rafat Socha (3 years 6 months); Andrezej Szczesniewski (3 years).

All at Areszt Sledczy, UL. W.P. 24, 97-300 Piotrkow Trybualski, Poland.

Mariusz Zych (3 years). He is at Zaktad Karny, Mecka Wola, Poland.

Send donations to ABC-Warszawa PO-Box 71, 01-125 Warszawa, Poland

Following his 34 day hunger strike last year (see Organise! 44) which resulted in the Office of Corrections admitting that they were wrong to withhold his mail and that it wouldn’t happen again, Ben was surprised to find himself being granted parole on February 18th this year by the Victoria Adult Parole Board in Australia. He sees this as a vindication of the value of prisoner support and extends his thanks to all the people who supported him. We wish him well!

Ray Gilbert and John Kamara were convicted in December 1981 of killing John Suffield, a betting shop manager in Toxteth, Liverpool, on 13th March 1981. They were sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 6 years for robbery to run concurrently. There are, however, serious doubts as to their convictions and evidence exists which proves their innocence.

A number of things casts doubts on their convictions; none of the eye witnesses picked them out during identity parades; no forensic evidence was provided linking them to the crime; evidence was fabricated by police and other inmates; the prosecution used uncorroborated statement evidence; their alibis were not properly investigated by the police; there was interference of defence witnesses; custody records were destroyed; deals were made betwe and remand prisoners for shorter sentences to testify against the two accused, with interviews and statements not being released; and two juries were dismissed, one on a point of law, and the other for reasons not disclosed.

In 1981, prosecution witness Thomas Pickett admitted to other inmates at HMP Risley that his statement was fabricated. The Home Office took 7 years to look into this. In 1992, all remand prosecution witnesses were requestioned due to serious concerns about their statements against the two men. Liverpool police refuse to release the original inquiry document in order to protect their informants. There are believed to be other statements made by remand prisoners interviewed at the time; there is also documentation from subsequent inquiries into the conviction.

In 1993 C3 department of the Home Office asked police to look into points raised in letters to MPs. They concluded the convictions were ‘safe’. In the same year the Rough Justice team lost all of Ray’s legal documentation which has caused him severe problems in obtaining correct paperwork.

Both men consistently protest their innocence and resist their maltreatment whenever possible. Because of this they are often singled out for special attention. Ray is currently in the Segregation Unit. Their case has recently been forwarded to the newly appointed Criminal Case Review Board which is supposed to investigate miscarriages of justice. There are already serious concerns about the effectiveness of this body, despite the fact that it has yet to do anything of note.

This case is yet another serious frame-up in Britain. Both men are continuing their struggle for justice, and we urge you to support them however you can.

Send letters of support to:- Ray Gilbert, H10111, HMP Long Lartin, South Littleton, Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 5TZ.

John Kamara, H10109, HMP Swaleside, Brabazon Road, Eastchurch, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 4DZ.

For more information contact:- Newcastle ABC, c/o PO Box 1TA, Newcastle, NE99 1TA.