Process kick behind bulletproof glass.

Between Posse and politics: Because he is a shoe in accordance with the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao accused, a German PhD student at Cambridge before the court - behind bulletproof glass.

 

Cambridge - Ken Sheraton looks as if he had bitten a lemon. Probably, the magistrate court judge at the English university city of Cambridge prefer the radiant spring sun-sit.

AP
Security man with the corpus delicti: Shoe on Prime

Instead, the Sheraton in the negotiating room 4 a procedure guide, which is about lofty things like expression and demonstration of freedom as well as to tangible economic interests of the UK trading nation. At least does the air-conditioning.

On the dock, from the rest of the courtroom separated by bulletproof glass, sits the German PhD student Martin J., 27, in dark suit and tie. "Please understand that I can say nothing now," he blogs online said before negotiations start. A question of court servant, he answered "yes", otherwise, the narrow laconic German - very different than on that February evening, which is relevant in today's hearing goes.
Because he interrupted the speech of the Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao at the elite university with a whistle from his whistle, and protested: "This is a scandal. How can the university for this dictator prostitute?"

"Threatening and abusive behavior"

In the courtroom, the scene shown in the many Chinese in the audience the protesters quickly niederschrien. Then Martin J. withdrew the gray Adidas shoe from the left foot and threw him in the direction of the speaker and the Treter landed about a meter away from the podium. This behavior - apparently a copy of the Iraqi journalists, the former U.S. president George Bush with both shoes beworfen had - according to indictments is "threatening or abusive behavior" which, in the worst case, to six months imprisonment and 5000 pound fine. In addition, Martin J. his place at the world famous elite university lose.

At the first hearing is certainly not to the motives of the shoe thrower nor the human rights violations of communist dictatorship. In the dock - at least in a figurative sense - is the prosecutor. You must be defended against the suspicion that she had only reason the prosecution pushed to the Chinese leadership to do a favor. Same as the first witness is competent district prosecutor heard. It must explain why the German doctoral students, the process is done - after all, argued the defender, but was recently in London, an eco-Protestlerin the economy minister Peter Mandelson green food color into his face and was thrown with a warning like this come. They could say nothing, Punam Milhan explained: "Each case is subject to individual assessment."

Is there a public interest in the case?

It had also Milhan consider whether public interest in the condemnation of the Germans there. It affirmed the district prosecutor. Was there political influence? "Categorically no," said the prosecutor: communication with the government in London did not. Not more than with the law firm acting on behalf of the Chinese Embassy is working.

Their employees have diligently worked on the first hearing the same two Chinese students to speak as witnesses, whose statements weeks after the protest on the record have been taken. Brav say Honan Tongyan Wang and Lee, they were disturbed by J. Martin, and even felt a little threatened. "And yet you let him out of sight?" asks incredulously of the defenders, as Wang admits that he did not throw the shoe not seen.

As Judge Sheraton looks again as if he wanted to be better somewhere else. Including the entire effort? Usually takes care of the university disciplinary offenses to their students. Brav, the biochemist, the Pathology Institute is working with the Chinese ambassador in London apologized: he had "no intention, the Chinese people to insult." The accusation, Wen Jiabao when they were a dictator, let Martin J. unmentioned - the fall in the UK under the freedom of expression.

Devote attention to China

The Vice-Chancellor Alison Richard did not, however, to Devote to the high guest missing. After studying each year at least 600 Chinese in Cambridge, and their tuition fees are significantly higher than the contributions, the British and EU students pay. In the 800th Anniversary year of the institution is trying more intensively Cambridge students from Hong Kong to win. An enduring resentment of the Communist rulers want the university responsible, nor provoke the British government under Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who is also writing with Wen Jiabao apologized.

Much suggests that judges Sheraton and therefore be accused in the courtroom to braise them. The hearing will still persist until Wednesday.