Following the closing arguments by the prosecution and defense on February 16, the trial court judge signed an order presented by the defense for Erwin to be released from custody pending the judge’s verdict, which will be delivered on February 22. The prosecution exercised its right to appeal to a higher court in order to hav...e Erwin remain in detention a few more days. The trial judge took the extraordinary step of sending the paperwork to the higher court last night thus ensuring that the appeal would be heard today (Friday). The higher court sided with the trial judge and denied the prosecution’s appeal. Erwin will be released from detention in a few hours and will re-join his fellow Cove Guardians. Erwin will be back in court on February 22 to hear the judge’s verdict on the assault charges. The prosecution has only asked for a small fine (100,000 Yen) should Erwin be found guilty. No jail time was requested. The defense exposed the fact that the prosecution’s...
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UPDATE ABOUT ERWIN HIS CASE!!! Translation: AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The court in Japan is giving the verdict on Feb. 22th in the case against Erwin Vermeulen, a Dutch Sea Shepherd activist. A spokesperson for the environmental movement announced after a session of the court today. Vermeulen was arrested in Half-December because he was a Japanese dolphin hunters would have pushed the activist was ...trying to take pictures of a dolphin transport. On Friday December 16th Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen was arrested in Taiji, Japan, while attempting to take photos of Risso’s dolphins being transferred from holding pens in the sea to the Dolphin Resort Hotel. Police claim Erwin shoved a Hotel employee. In anticipation of the verdict on the case, there will be a meeting on the 16th of February that includes a witness of Sea Shepherd telling her/his story. According to the spokesman for the environmental movement. Vermeulen made a good impression in court today, but he could not talk...
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There are literally millions of people looking for information on Erwin's trial. This time, the stars have aligned over Wakayama City. The large media presence in Wakayama Court today was at it too, digging for news and feedback from lawyers who are trying to keep as tight a lid on information and spin as Sea Shepherd is. Why? Because Erwin's future is at stake--two years... in prison. And then there is the whole precedent making side--a slight brush up costs two months in jail. Shallow news has been out since about 18:00, on TV and in print. Now just past midnight, everybody now realizes that this story is BIG--big international interest, big implications, big conclusions either way the case settles. It probably has Erwin in knots now knowing that the trial will go on next week too. And the dolphin hunt begins in Taiji in another six hours, depending on the weather. My heroes are those standing by Erwin in court. Those with the toughest job are in Taiji everyday, never...
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December 28, 2011 Erwin and rescue dogsThe Japanese Public Prosecutor in Wakayama Prefecture has made the decision to bring an indictment against Cove Guardian and Dutch citizen Erwin Vermeulen, for assault. The prosecution plans to take this case to open court and hold a trial. Erwin is accused of pushing a Japanese marine mammal trainer while attempting to photograph the transfer of a dolphin at the Dolphin Resort Hotel. If Erwin is found guilty at trial, he could face up to two years in prison and/or a fine up to 200,000 Yen. In order to defend Erwin and win his freedom, Sea Shepherd is being forced to spend large sums of money from our operating budget on legal fees. This move seems to be at the heart of the Japanese prosecution’s strategy.Via Captain Paul Watson in the Southern Ocean: We need YOUR help to succeed. If each and every Sea Shepherd supporter would donate something towards the Taiji Legal Defense Fund at www.seashepherd.org, we’ll not only be able to...
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SSCS lawyers met with Erwin Vermeulen again today. I spoke with Scott West a few hours ago. There is not much to report. Scott will release information through SSCS channels. We all want to know more with the hourly awareness that Erwin is in a Japanese jail eating a daily diet of salad and rice as we eat exactly whatever we like and do as we please. Friends in the Southern O...cean campaign have more to do and better food than Erwin. Yet, there is still very little that anybody can do for him. The legal process seems delicate to me. The lawyers have asked that their work not be in mass media and Scott said he respects that. Personally, I'd like to be in the middle of doing something, anything for Erwin. But it is not the time. He will surely be in jail through the new year. He will probably be in jail much longer. I hope friends and supporters will be able to visit him in jail. I do know enough to say that I believe that Scott and the two new Cove Guardians, Ethan and Luca, and...
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10 More !
Dec 27. 2011 | Comments
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Erwin Vermeulen will be in prison for 10 more days. Then they most charge him or release him.People all over the world have sign already!
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Update : Erwin Vermeulen is still in Shingu City Police custody. Erwin was attempting to film the transfer of dolphins from the sea to holding pens at a resort. An employee claims that Erwin pushed him; there were no other witnesses to this allegation. There will be a decision made on the 27th (Japan-time) as to release him or continue to keep him in jail. We need last minute pressure asking for his safe and immediate release. Please let the Japanese government know the world is watching out for Erwin and all the SSCS volunteers. What Can You Do to Help? Make calls and write letters and sign the Petition.Be Sure You Send the Message: Free Erwin Vermeulen and Stop the Slaughter at the Cove! Please call and write the Ministry of Foreign Affaris in Japan:The contact is as follows.Kasumigaseki 2-2-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8919 JapanTel: +81 (0) 3-3580-3311 Contact for...
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