The trial of New Zealand anti-whaling campaigner and global circumnavigation speed record holder, Pete Bethune, reaches its conclusion this week, with sentencing to be handed down in the Tokyo court at 13:30 JST (16:00 NZ; 05:30 BST) on Wednesday 7 July.
Bethune has already been held as a prisoner for 141 days, both in the maximum security wing of the Tokyo Detention Centre and prior to that, on the Shonan Maru #2, the Japanese whaling vessel that rammed and sunk his boat, ‘Ady Gil’ (formerly known as ‘Earthrace’) on 6 January this year in the Southern Ocean whilst taking part in the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s ‘ anti-whaling mission, ‘Operation Waltzing Matilda’.
Speaking from prison, Pete Bethune, who was warned before his trial that he could be facing up to 15 years in jail, said: “There is little doubt I’ll be found guilty of at least four of the charges. The conviction rate here is over 98% so it’s not like I’ll walk away from this with a clean record but I will have a clear conscience.”
“In going to the Antarctic, I was simply standing up for what I believe in. Throughout the whole of the Earthrace project, and the subsequent period with Sea Shepherd, my motives have been driven by a passionate concern for our environment.”
The Japanese prosecution team have asked for a prison term of two years to be imposed, but Bethune and his supporters are hoping for a suspended sentence.
Timeline:
27 June 2008: ‘Earthrace’, skippered by Pete Bethune, breaks the official round the world speed record using 100% biofuel
17 October 2009: Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) unveil Earthrace, now re-named ‘Ady Gil’ as the newest member of their anti-whaling fleet for ‘Operation Waltzing Matilda’ in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary
22 December 2009: ‘Ady Gil’ arrives in Antarctica
5 January 2010: Japanese whaling vessel, ‘Shonan Maru #2’ rams ‘Ady Gil’, slicing her in two
7 January 2010: ‘Ady Gil’ sinks in the Antarctic
15 February: Bethune boards Shonan Maru #2 intending to carry out a citizen's arrest of the ship's captain, Hiroyuki Komiya, and to present him with a US $3m (£2m) bill for the loss of the Ady Gil
He is held as prisoner on board as Shonan Maru #2 returns to Japan
12 March: arrested on arrival in Japan
2 April: Bethune is formally charged with five counts – trespass, causing injuries, forcible obstruction of business, destruction of property and illegal possession of a knife (a pocket knife used by Bethune to cut the anti-boarding net on the Shonan Maru #2)
27 May: trial begins – Bethune accepts four charges, but denies injuring a Japanese crew member
3 June: first phase of trial ends – Bethune awaits sentencing
8 June: Sea Shepherd sever ties with Pete Bethune, saying he is no longer a member or representative of their organisation