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radioAndrea Williams reports on the case against Andy Stephenson and Kathryn Sloane
A District Judge, sitting at Brighton Magistrates' Court announced on Monday that all charges were being dismissed against Christian pro-life campaigner Andy Stephenson. The case against his fellow campaigner, Kathryn Sloane, was dismissed on Thursday of last week (13 September) during the same trial.
All charges against both campaigners have therefore now been dismissed.
Andy and Kathryn were supported by the Christian Legal Centre and were represented in Court by human rights barrister Paul Diamond and Mr Michael Phillips.
Andy and Kathryn, members of the campaign group Abort67, were arrested
in June 2011, whilst demonstrating silently in the vicinity of Wistons
Clinic, operated by leading abortion provider BPAS, in Brighton. As
part of its public education project, the group, which has held
peaceful protests outside the establishment for 5 years, displays
images of aborted babies but does so silently and without
harassment.
Andrea Minichiello Williams, Barrister and
Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which represents Andy
and Kathryn, said: "The dismissal of these charges will be welcomed by
all who value freedom of speech and expression. It is especially
important in the context of the continuing debate about the role of
independent abortion providers and the information made available to
women.
"This trial exposed the fact that not all who
attend the clinic considering abortion receive counselling. Through
the work that they do, Andrew and Kathryn seek to give women access to
truth about abortion which although unpleasant is nonetheless true. If
women are to make informed decisions about abortion, they need to be
aware of the full impact of it.
"Flowing from their Christian faith, Andrew and Kathryn are motivated
by their concern for women considering abortion and their conviction
that all life is precious in God's sight and needs to be protected.
They seek to be a voice for those who have no voice.
"Given our experience in this and other similar cases, we will be
seeking a meeting with the Association of Chief Police Officers to
explore whether better guidance can be drawn up over the policing of
such activities, especially those motivated by religious convictions." 
Andrea Minichiello Williams is a Barrister and has been working as a Christian lobbyist in the Legal and Public Policy arena in the United Kingdom for 10 years. She is also Director of the Christian Legal Centre Ltd which is partnered with 
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The arrest of the defendants, and the chorus of allegations against them of harassing vulnerable women, received a great deal more publicity than their vindication.
No surprise their John. Anyway, exactly what were these campaigners arrested for? Democracy for Christian groups and individuals is increasingly a bye-gone era. Whilst other denominations preach hatred and violence, yet remain on UK soil, Christians who act without malice are treated despicably, as Jesus said: 'The world will hate you as it has hated me'. Thanks to God that the judges on this occasion saw sense and threw the case out. Remains now to be seen why the CPS water public money in bringing this case up in the first place.
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