JENGb News
ISSUE 11
“You’re not alone”
December 2011
From our Campaign Co-ordinator: May this newsletter reach you with some festive cheer at this, probably the most difficult time for all of us missing our loved ones because of JE and the ‘justice’ system. Thank you to all those who have sent cards to JENGbA, that’s very kind of you and we do appreciate the words of thanks and support. Ray Gilbert (our longest serving JE prisoner) even sent his before December which is beyond organised thanks Ray. 2012 will be challenging but we have to remember how far we’ve come and how quickly our campaign is moving: we have now met and gained the support of MPs, lawyers, QC’s and professors, attended a brief inquiry to the Justice Select Committee, Newsnight used our data and highlighted JENGbA, and several other programmes on JE are in production, Simon Natas and Gloria gave a talk to the Haldane Society and we also met NAPO. Facebook, Twitter and the JENGbA blog are all very active. And not forgetting an ongoing petition with nearly 2000 signatures to date. Next year the campaign has to surpass that – we have to be part of the debate on mandatory sentencing raised recently by eminent legals, and ultimately force a bigger debate on JE cases demanding they be re-examined. So not so much Merry Christmas from me but onwards and upwards for 2012 with warm wishes and love to you all from everyone at JENGbA. Gloria Morrison
“An unjust law is no law at all” St Augustine of Hippo
USEFUL LINKS www.innocent.org.uk www.unitedagainstinjustice.org.uk www.insidetime.org Offenders' Families Helpline 0808 808 2003 Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat & Sun 10am-3pm
We have a new supporter, a Rap artist named Goddaz. He has written a rap for JENGbA and it is brilliant, it’s still to be finalized and a video will be added soon then it will be available to download with all proceeds to JENGbA. Obviously Goddaz could not include everyone’s name but it is about everyone in JENGbA, please be assured of that. So a massive thank you to Goddaz, the lyrics are our Xmas message to all. I'm not guilty by association I'm not guilty.........JE Not guilty by association I'm not guilty.........JE Joint enterprise is not about race king It's more like a guilty by association ting They trying to lock me up cuz like I pulled the trigger Even though I was nowhere near the figure Even though I just said hi on a quick one Never knew never thought he was gonna burst (shoot) man Never knew him never clocked he even had a gun Let alone pull a knife out stab & run life coz someone at the scene called me? I was stopping the fight how I'm I guilty I was unconscious how can I take the fall 27 years coz I made a phone call Nah CPS...I'm not guilty Release me & apply JE properly Like like them killers of Stephen Like yeah the Phone hacking daemons Joint Enterprise...get wise Realize it could b u getting tried It doesn't matter if u got alibis Yeah I've seen the cases with my own eyes Seen mothers in tears heard the cries Fathers break down saying their good byes To their innocent kids justice denied Miscarriages of justice stop the rise Nah CPS...I'm not guilty Release me & apply JE properly Like like them killers of Mark Duggan Like them killers of smilie in the kitchen Jordan Jade Jamal keep your head up Keith John Adeel never give up Kenneth Oliver Ray keep your spirits up Michael Kelvin Laura Joe big up Nah CPS …we are not guilty Release us & apply justice properly Like like them traders & bankers Like them greedy politician w*nkers Goddaz. December 2011
JENGbA talks to National Association of
A word from our Inside Supporters
Probation Officers (NAPO) On 18 November 2011, Gloria Morrison and I gave a talk to the London branch of NAPO. NAPO is a trade union representing 9000 probation and family court staff in England, Wales and N. Ireland. Out of approximately 70 people in attendance, about half had already heard of joint enterprise, which was a relief because at least we were not trying to educate all of them. As many of you know, one of the problems with trying to get the message out about JE is that so many people have not heard of it and bizarrely that includes many professionals within the justice system. We had a very clear intention to highlight how people are wrongly convicted by JE, who the wrongly convicted are, the effect on them and their families and lastly the effect on the prison system. Our accounts of prisoners’ real experiences left them with no doubt that there is a serious problem. During the Q&A session, Napo members showed genuine interest and it became clear that this talk was just as much an education for me and Gloria as it was for Napo. One lady said she was dealing with a young man convicted of JE, and that despite reading through his report, although she could clearly see his indictment, she was unable to see what he had actually done. She did her best to help him but was obviously troubled by this. Another man from a youth offending team said that they tried to explain JE to their young people but that they did not understand it. He also admitted that it did not sit well with him either. Of course, this is not a surprise to those of us who have direct experience of JE, but these examples reveal how this law is tying us all up in knots. Napo London Branch have definitely come away with a much better knowledge of the joint enterprise law, the true nature of how JE convictions are secured, and the unique problems that the prisoners that they, as probation staff, are coming into contact with, are facing, particularly in regards to maintaining innocence. We are pleased to say we are continuing discussions with Napo and there are plans to work together in 2012. If any JENGbA supporters have contacts with other trade unions or youth groups, please get in touch, we may be able to join forces. th
Jacqueline Long (Sister of Jonathan Long, HMP Swaleside)
Until I found out about JENGbA I was slowly starting to lose hope of anyone ever acknowledging the unjust and cruel law that is Joint Enterprise and which takes away people’s lives. I feel this law is in itself as criminal as any murderer it claims to bring to justice. Thankfully I did find out about JENGbA and the work this small group of people were doing on our behalf. I actually phoned Gloria and was relieved to speak to a law abiding citizen who actually listened and cared enough to start one hell of a fight for us all. And with the all the other nameless caring campaigners who are daily and bravely punching above their weight I am ready to carry on and keep hold of my hope. Thank you. John Crilly HMP Full Sutton 28th Nov 2011 To all those people wrongfully convicted in prison we have to remain strong. It’s not easy, but we’re surrounded by a lot of love and care and in the end that’s what matters in life. Stay well and thanks JENGbA for everything. Alexander de Sousa Silva HMP Lowdham Grange. If things stay the way they are I will leave prison when I’m an old man with my mother in her grave and my two daughters very distant by then, it’s inhuman I’ve become a victim, my family have become victims. I would like to say Gloria, you and other members of JENGbA are great human beings and no matter what happens in my life I thank you for your efforts in helping people like myself! God bless you. Nicky Olu HMP Long Lartin
Thank you for sending your newsletter. You seem to be very busy. I just wanted to say that in your newsletter you say that you have 256 joint enterprise victims. There is so much more Joint Enterprise victims out there, you should put a notice in Inside Time asking anyone done under je for them or their families to contact JENGbA because there are a lot of people out there done under this law that don’t know about the campaign. Something to think about. All the best. Bernie Lawrence HMP Swaleside Thanks Bernie, will do in the new year. Lots of us have your Ma in our thoughts and prayers hoping she makes a full recovery.
JENGbA, 27 Old Gloucester Road, LONDON WC1N 3AX Email:
[email protected] Phone: 07709 115 793 www.jointenterprise.co
JOINT ENTERPRISE IS A COURT FULL OF LIES!
