Hi Guys, I don't normally do this but I received an email this morning and I'd like to do something to help. My new friend Maggie emailed me to ask if I'd sign an online petition to free an English guy called John Packwood. He's been unjustly imprisoned in Spain under a ten year old International Warrant issued by the Moroccan Government...
The charge is drug related and seems like a complete burocratic farce. John crewed boat in 1997, sailing it from Southampton to Morocco for a new owner. 10 weeks later the owner was discovered smuggling cocaine and interpole went back to the delivery crew to check if they were involved. At that time the crew was cleared by Interpole but Morocco aparently issued a warrant for their arrest but didn't come to get them in the UK where the warrant would be dissputed.
Four months ago John flew to Spain to help a friend move and was arrested on arrival. He's now sitting in a Spanish jail fighting deportation to Morocco, where, if he stands trial, he faces a potential 30 year sentence. You can read the full story here... http://www.fairtrialsabroad.org/potm.php?prisoner=29. If you would like to support John then click here to sign the petition... http://www.petitiononline.com/jp01/petition.html.
Secondly, Craig Alden. This one is a little closer to my heart and my family. Craig is a member of my parent's church and is a British missionary who moved to Brazil to set up a private orphanage to house, school and train Brazilian street children who otherwise have very little choice in life. I remember the Sunday we prayed for Craig (I was quite young) and sent him with the communities blessing and support.
Craig has resisted demands by the local government to use the Abrigo as a holding centre for drug users and child prostitutes. He's consistently refused to accept such individuals because he felt that the children within the orphanage would have been put at risk. Though the orphanage is privately funded his was forced to accept them until his fears were confirmed and children were abused by those he was forced to admit.
Craig brought them to the local authorities and asked that they find alternative housing for them to protect the other children. His request wasn't taken well.
Craig was jailed on July 1st 2002, charged with abuse and neglect of children under his care at the Abrigo Warboys Orphanage in Planaltina Goias, Brazil. He was convicted in early November and sentenced to 48 years imprisonment to be served in the local civil prison in Planaltina. He did not have a defence submitted on his behalf because his original lawyer missed a statutory deadline that exists in Brazil for a defence statement to be lodged. Vital defence evidence proving the charges to be false [defence witness statements, voluntary retraction of statements from alleged ‘victims’ and medical evidence] was ignored by the judge.
In the Judge’s summing up statement she stated that Craig’s lawyer did not attend all of the hearings, that she failed to submit a defence statement, she didn't even remain in the courtroom during the hearings and is now under investigation for her actions in this case. The judge concluded that the charges were ‘proven’ on the basis of the prosecution case alone.
It is a total travesty of justice that would never, ever have happened here but Craig has now been in jail for three years. My Dad and the church have been working incredibly hard throughout this time to visit Craig, make sure he's safe and raise awareness of his case and petition for an appeal. So far progress has been slow and I can only imagine what three years in solitary is like for anyone. Craig still relies on God to free him and Dad has put a website with more information up to help with the appeal. Please take a moment to read it, join the petition and maybe even write to Craig in prison. www.freecraigalden.com
Thanks guys, if you can spread the word it would be very much appreciated. xc