Bloggers react to Waihopai spy verdict

The damaged Waihopai satellite dome. Photo / Tim Cuff

Can you now get off charges using the "greater good" defence that the three activists acquitted of vandalising the Waihopai spy base cited?

That's a big talking point today online, with the verdict quickly
drawing reaction throughout the blogosphere.

Auckland blogger Cameron Slater, who writes as Whaleoil, is facing charges related to posts he wrote containing clues to the identities of people with name suppression who were appearing before the courts.

Today he wrote: "I've now got a nice defense because I have a belief in a higher law, a law for protecting people from paedos, rapists, wife bashers and thugs."

Scoop's Gordon Campbell said the decision to acquit was likely to have been based on social grounds as well as on points of law.

"The jury may well have sensibly concluded that no useful social purpose would be served by convicting and imprisoning these three men for the damage they had done to public property, given their sincerely held beliefs," he wrote.

"Any future jury pool will be more likely to be aware of the argument of moral necessity advanced by the Waihopai Three, just as any future protester thinking of doing damage to public property will now be more aware of this defence, and its potential for success."

David Farrar, who runs popular right-wing Kiwiblog, said: "I think the verdict reflects that many NZers do not like spy stations, regardless of the actual applicable law.

"What will be interesting is if this sets out a spate of attacks on properties by protesters, who will hope for a similar outcome.

"As for Waihopai, they may need to invest in some extra guards with tasers!"

And radio announcer Pat Brittenden said the protesters were easily found not guilty as they were "passionate in their belief" and didn't believe they were committing a crime.

"Saving human lives is the greater good over costing the country $1 million and temporarily incapacitating the base.

"The big question is now that this case has set a precedence, who will use it for what 'cause' next?"

On Twitter, Aucklander TheHeindog summed up one view: "The Waihopai spy base case is a great advertisement for the uselessness of the jury system."

Cantabrian Roughdiamondnz tweeted: "Common sense is the loser here!"

Meanwhile, Green MP Keith Locke said yesterday the acquittal was a victory for the peace movement, which has campaigned for the closure of the base.

"I hope that the not guilty verdict will help break down the blanket of secrecy that successive governments have imposed around the operations of the base, and its true purpose," he said.

- NZHERALD STAFF