Protesters' trial may go to the jury today
Second defendant cited for contempt for refusing to detail blood source
By NANCY DOOLING
Gannett News Service
BINGHAMTON — A jury is expected today to begin deliberating the fate of four protesters charged with breaking federal law when they splashed or poured their blood in a military recruiting office two years ago.
Closing arguments from both prosecution and defense are scheduled to begin this morning in Binghamton's federal court on the fifth day of what has been a noisy, sometimes contentious trial with frequent interruptions from the defendants and applause over their actions from a courtroom packed with supporters.
On Thursday, Judge Thomas J. McAvoy stopped one of the four protesters from testifying Thursday, after citing him for contempt for refusing to say who had drawn the blood that was splashed or poured in a Lansing recruiting office. “I can't snitch,” Daniel Burns told McAvoy.
Burns, Peter De Mott, Clare Grady and Teresa Grady are on trial in Binghamton's federal court on charges they conspired to impede a federal official and damaged or injured federal property. The four Ithaca residents could get up to six years in prison if they are convicted of conspiracy. De Mott was cited Wednesday for contempt after he refused to answer the same question.
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That blood was already on the flag,” Clare Grady said. “We just made it visible.”
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