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Shell delays Lawless sentencing

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Shell delays Lawless sentencing

3News NZ

Lucy Lawless and members of Greenpeace on the Noble Discoverer

Lucy Lawless and members of Greenpeace on the Noble Discoverer

Actress Lucy Lawless has had her court date adjourned and will now be sentenced in November for her role in a four-day occupation of an oil exploration ship.

The date has been changed because police are seeking reparations of more than $700,000 on behalf of Shell, according to Greenpeace.

In June, Lawless and seven other Greenpeace activists admitted a charge of being unlawfully on a ship after they spent 77 hours on a 53m-high tower they scaled aboard the Noble Discoverer at Port Taranaki in February.

The action was aimed at protesting Shell's planned exploration for oil in the Arctic.

The group was due to appear in New Plymouth District court on Friday, but Greenpeace released a statement on Thursday evening saying the court date had been adjourned until November 22.

"Greenpeace NZ has insufficient detail to comment further, but it is likely that reparation will not be agreed to," the statement said.

A Shell representative was not immediately available for comment.

The protesters was initially charged with burglary, but pleaded guilty when the lesser charge was laid.

No conviction was entered when they pleaded guilty, giving the sentencing judge the option of discharging the eight without conviction when they appear in court.

Lawless, best-known for her roles in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess and Spartacus, says the protest prompted thousands of people to support the campaign to stop the drilling.

Lawless, who is appearing in court under her married name, Lucy Tapert, will be sentenced along with Raoni Hammer, Mike Buchanan, Shayne Comino, Viv Hadlow, Shai Naides, Zach Penman and Ilai Amir.

NZN

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Comments

14/11/2012 9:03:56 a.m.

Jdd wrote:

Good going Lucy! At least she's acting on her beliefs for a better world, other celebrities tend to talk the talk but when it comes down to it dont have the guts to follow through. I hope she's not jailed and it doesnt put her off future GreenPeace protests.

24/09/2012 3:44:30 p.m.

tony wrote:

They should give them all 3 years in prison-- trust me if seven strangers broke into Lucy's property and when ask by the police to leave and they refuse the seven would be still in jail-d list celebrity she still broke the law- do the crime do the time-- but it Lawless-so the weak nz court gives them a pass.If i was Shell it would sue all - usa shell should sue them to- and block her passport to the states.

14/09/2012 6:24:07 a.m.

z650Steve wrote:

I hope these people including Lawless go down hard. Just because Lawless is a 'celebrity' there is no reason for her to go free. Who gives a toss if it would stop her entering the USA? Lawless a 'hero'? Yeah, right!

13/09/2012 11:20:08 p.m.

Zeigeist wrote:

Another hero highlighting the flaws of a profoundly sick society in the pursuit of maximising profits regardless of the social and environmental cost. Well done Lucy stay strong. "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free".