[Scan-DC] Plane Spotters Acquitted

[Sheldon Daitch]

From Kathimerini, Athens, November 7:

Kalamata  -  An appeals court yesterday overturned espionage-related
convictions for British and Dutch planespotters who case pitted military

security rules against the hobby of watching military aircraft.

The three-judge panel ruled unanimously to clear the 14 just a few days
shy of the anniversary of their arrest, which touched off a diplomatic
row
between Greece and Britain.

"They did not believe they were doing anything wrong and we accepted
their good faith," the head judge said, after more than an hour of
deliberation.

"I'm very relieved.  It was like fireworks going off when they said it
was an acquittal," said one of the defendants, Lesley Coppin, whose
husband Paul had organized the trop.

The public prosecutor proposed upholding the convictions for eight
members
of the group, 6 Brits and two Dutch, sentenced in April to three years
in prison for illegally gathering information.  He proposed that six
other
Brits convicted of complicity and sentenced to one year in prison,
should
be freed.

"They didn't break into any base.  They drove around in full view,"
argued the
defense lawyer.  "Simple observation can't be prohibited."


73
Sheldon
WA4MZZ