WHATEVER THE justified anger expressed as a result of the conviction of four of the Newham 7. the verdicts show that the Jury version of the facts. Only politics did they disagree, majority. Count one of a complex indictment stated that Chaudri assaulted Scott Young. Chaudri said that he had only defended independent witnesses supported him. Verdict Not Guilty.
Count 2 charged three white co-defendents with the pathetically light offence 'common assault', on the driver of a Mercedes, when the back windscreen was smashed ana a passenger stabbeu with a broken bottle. Verdict Guilty. They were finded f100.
Count accused Chaudri of conspiracy to smash luke tacks that were sweeping Newham. He had 'admitThe defence was that 'we were only going to stop the attackers'. Verdict - Not Guilty.
Count 4. which was possession of 2 weapon by Chaudri, was abandoned THE 20 June local government elections in the South accepted the defence on the law or the and then only by himself two by the prosecution. Count 5 charged the other SiX Asians with criminal vamage io the Duke Edinburgh. Pub windows were broken during the fight outside. No new who broke them. bul if it was a concerted attack by police claimed they would all be guilty of *ioint enterprise, a much more serious matter The defendants said that they didn't go to attack the pub, but to show they were not afraid and to deter racist attackers. VerVot Guilty.
LILI Count 7, three defendants were accused of having oftensive weapons in a car the next night, "to defend themselves. Seven police District Support Unit ofricers gave obviotisly conevidence. Two defendants said that they did know the items were in the car, the third explanation for each item. Verdict — Not Guilty This only left Count 6, of taffray 'unlawful righting'. The case against Jyoti Rajappan collapsed when an incriminating interview was thrown out on the grounds police pressure. Amjad Aki denied he there and said that identification of him "TOH paulo: malicious and wrong. He was found not guilty The affray charge against the two whites was predictably dismissed. The remaining four Asians faced the crunch issue of the entire trial. This was the question: what do vou do when you and your com di c and the police are unable or unwilling to help? DC Bonczoszek illustrated the nount. Hearing or nammer attacks Asians by whites in a silver Grenada, he saw tit to keep watch or Asian youth. He and other police officers suppressed all reference to violence by whites from the Duke of conourga But an internal document. the defence showed that police were involved in the fight.
ANal defence
that they did not go to atTack the pub. but when they arrived opposite they were allu pelted with glasses. Having been did not away but fought back with anything that came to hand.
They chased the whites into the pub and no one hurt. They acted in self-defence and in preven tion of further racist crimes. The real issue ther resolant force'. judges summing up stressed that people must remain within the law at all The jury convicted the four defendants by a 10-2 majority. Despite this, it is beyond all doubt that the original prosecution case was discredited Unmesh Desai, of the defence campaign, has stated that there will be an appeal on the cases of the four convicted. He said "The Newham wike the Newham 8, is aboutimakinglothe streets safe blacks and Asians to walk free from racist attacks.