This case will be setting a lot of precedents for a long time to come.
Tommy Robinson, as he’s known in his work and reporting — has been held in solitary confinement since being thrown in jail for contempt of court.
While unhinged Britons were protesting something-or-other about Trump — they didn’t even seem to know why — more level-headed voters were marching in defense of Tommy Robinson, who they viewed as a political prisoner who is being held for daring to report on something the PC police would rather we not discuss.
Even the circumstances of his arrest were themselves under a gag order, and local press were forbidden to discuss it until they were shamed into lifting the order by international pressure reporting the same story.
A conservative news outlet from Canada — with whom Tommy was once associated — was present for the trial. Here are the updates, with the video summarizing the day on top for those who like to skip to the back of the book.
For those who make it to the end (the summary is pretty lengthy), there’s a little gem about Fake News in there.
"The Lord Chief Justice himself seems sympathetic to Tommy…" @EzraLevant reported on Tommy Robinson's appeal today, inside & outside the courtroom. See the REST of Ezra's final report, analyzing what happened, and what's next: https://t.co/EeSYmGijqq | #UK #tcot pic.twitter.com/CORSgDQ2xS
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) July 18, 2018
Here are a few of the highlights of the live-tweeting.
First, about the defendant:
The trial has not commenced, but right now Tommy is visible on a video link. He is looking fit and alert, wearing a sharp black dress shirt. There is some back-and-forth regarding some technical problems with the video link.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Tommy is on a video link (from prison, I assume). He seems unaware that we can hear his every word — and, typical Tommy, he's engaging in banter with whatever prison staff are with him. I'm impressed that he still has his sense of humour.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Just how interested was the Media in this story that has risen to international notoriety?
There are five journalists (plus our Rebel cameraman) in the media gallery in the court. I introduced myself to the BBC man. He seemed pleasant enough, but I'm sure he's here to bury, not to praise.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Five. You’d probably see a bigger crowd at a cheese roll.
The Lord Chief Justice has just confirmed that we can live-tweet from court — subject only to the continuing publication ban in the Leeds Crown Court, that covers two rape gang trials there.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
That’s a reference to the rape gang (or ‘grooming gang’) case Tommy was trying to report on which got the whole Tommy Robinson saga started…
Dein is outlining just how difficult it was for Tommy to instruct lawyers, given how Tommy was treated in prison — limited phone calls, solitary confinement, etc. If Tommy were a leftist, @amnesty would surely be in courtintervening in behalf.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Denied access to his own Lawyer:
Dein is describing an outrageous incident — Tommy's solicitor, John Carson, had a meeting with Tommy at HMP Hull prison. But when Carson went to meet him — Tommy had been moved to HMP Onley prison. Outrageous.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Dein is describing how the government refused to furnish transcripts to Tommy and his lawyers touching on the conviction. The government had the documents, presumably. They just refused to give them to Tommy or his lawyers. Outrageous. As Tommy would say: a stitch-up.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
By the way, we still don't know why the UK prison system moved Tommy from the (relatively) safe prison at HMP Hull to the dangerous prison HMP Onley, where Tommy needed to be in solitary confinement to survive Muslim prison gangs. A stitch-up.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
BIG HEADLINE NO. 1: Tommy is not just appealing his sentence. He's appealing the very conviction too. And not just in Leeds — in Canterbury. They're going the whole mile.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
BIG HEADLINE NO. 2: The treatment of Tommy whilst in prison, esp. the limits on his lawyers, has been outrageous and punitive — and it has directly brought the administration of justice into disrepute. I think the court is very attentive to that.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Some of the grounds of the appeal for the Leeds conviction: 1. Failure of the defendant to appreciate the details of the contempt complaint. "We do contend that the category of contempt… was not made clear by the learned judge."
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
"The judge should not have proceeded summarily in these circumstances". As in: why did it have to happen in five hours?
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Lord Chief Judge (paraphrased): so, given that Tommy offered to delete the Facebook livestream immediately, there was no need for an immediate trial? Dein: exactly.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Dein on timeline: livestream about 9:15 a.m.; court was aware of it very quickly; brought before the court mid-morning; was given a lawyer by around noon; sentencing right after lunch adjournment. "Significant, substantial loss of liberty on his behalf".
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Dein: "criminal procedure rules played no part in these proceedings". Dein suggests that if they had been followed, there would not have been a hasty, summary hearing.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Dein: At no time was Tommy asked by the judge if he knew/accepted what the contempt was! As in: Tommy may have been contrite — but he and the judge may have had different ideas of what he did wrong!
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Here are the rules of British criminal procedure when it comes to contempt. See s. 48: https://t.co/JHmVFEc3qK This is what Dein asserts was not followed.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Dein: "The prejudice to [Tommy] is that he has been treated as a prisoner who has been convicted and sentenced under the criminal sentencing regime… as opposed to a civil prisoner, civil prisoners are generally allowed privileges that criminal prisoners are not."
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Dein's point is that Tommy has been treated like a murderer; not like a civil prisoner. His treatment in prison is a result of this improper procedure and result. He refers to few privileges (e.g. visits, phone calls, etc.)
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Dein: "right from the outset Tommy offered to take the livestream down". "Any thoughts he had of disrupting the trial — he had none". "Showing maximum cooperation".
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
"In terms of assessing the level of criminality Tommy made repeated reference [in the livestream] to reporting restrictions". As in: Tommy clearly didn't think he was doing anything wrong.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Very interesting! Lord Chief Justice points out that, given how many other media had published the same facts, it was important for his alleged breach to be specified to him.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Dein and the Lord Chief Justice are going back and forth acknowledging that Tommy was not standing anywhere inappropriately; he said the defendants were merely "alleged" criminals, not convicted, etc. This is strong.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Dein indicates that Tommy knew he was being observed by police and in fact conferred with one to confirm that he was conducting himself appropriately. Dein says this shows Tommy was acting in good faith as a journalist.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
His public defender lawyer didn’t have time to be properly briefed before the trial, either. It was ‘too rushed’.
Despite being called a ‘model prisoner’, but his treatment is the kind they reserve for their most violent offenders:
Dein says there is no "rehabilitative aspect" whatsoever. He is only permitted 30 minutes of yard time per day. Not permitted to work. Not permitted to attend church. Not permitted to talk with his children (because of his solitary confinement).
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Mably: refers to the Canterbury contempt finding of 2017. Reminder: in that case, Tommy filmed a selfie video for literally 45 seconds on the court precincts. In my view, hardly worth a three-month sentence, suspended or not.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
I've always asked: how can Tommy have been convicted of contempt for a 75-minute broadcast, if that broadcast was not even viewed by the judge?
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
I have to tell you, I'm impressed with the temperament and clear thinking and clear speaking of the Lord Chief Justice in his interventions. I think he was courteous and generous to the public, too. I believe this case will be taken seriously. I hope I'm not a fool for saying so.
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
…told what he did wrong. 5. Not admitting what he did wrong. 6. Failed out proper punishment. … 8. Insufficient opportunity for Tommy to reflect and take advice, esp. to mitigation. 9. Summary proceedings should have happened. 10. Tommy deprived of chances to mitigate…
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
11. Bad sentencing, including that Tommy is held as a criminal, not a civil prisoner. Sorry I couldn’t keep up so quickly with Dein’s rapid-fire summary.
While we're waiting, here's a few things you can do:
1. Chip in to Tommy's legal bills at https://t.co/4Wm5rvhU0S
2. Get your free Tommy ringtone at https://t.co/axgdXjcyq0
3. If you want to help our Rebel reporting you can chip in at https://t.co/uCsaCG3ekB
4. Tweet: #FreeTommy!— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
Tommy specifically asked me to come to report on his appeal. This is why. When a Channel 4 producer – who works for their fact check team, for heaven's sake – is spreading false information about such basic facts, checkable facts, how can you possibly trust them on anything? https://t.co/YoMth3ungT
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) July 18, 2018
If this is what the media ‘fact-checkers’ look like. Is it any wonder the rank and file are so shoddy?
So the judge seemed to be giving an honest hearing to Tommmy’s case and may in fact have been sympathetic to his lawyer’s arugments.
This is a key case that will be used as a precedent for a long time to come, so the judge wants to get the wording right on his ruling. He will have his final result some time between now and the end of July.
Not the result Tommy was hoping for, to be sure, but at least there’s an end in sight now.
