Paul Lyons - to Court of Appeal, Tuesday 22nd October 2002

Hi MOJUK,
       Hope all is good with everyone, I myself am very well, strong and continuing to expose all those evil back bench hypocrites.

Their has been progress on my case since I last wrote, I had to sack my old legal team, solicitor/barrister/QC, well rid of them and have a completely new team.

They only had the papers for a few weeks, when we got directions for a oral hearing earlier this month, but they got of their arses and put together new grounds and were in court on Tuesday 10th September, it went relatively well, only one of the grounds was refused. So now it's time to see if this time I receive what I was denied at my trial, 'Justice'.
Jointly with my appeal against conviction, I have another appeal against a four year sentence for 'prison mutiny', whilst I was in HMP Full Sutton.

Myself and my two co-defendants have now got four weeks to get our ducks in a row, the appeal starts Tuesday 22nd October and has been given four days. So right now I'm running around like a headless chicken.

My case goes back to 1995, convicted and sentenced early 1998. So its took nearly five years to get leave to appeal, I am more than ready for it now, and consider myself one of the lucky ones, so few make it to the court of appeal.

It's also great to have a family who have put their lives on hold, while assisting me in proving my innocence, without their support I would have had serious problems.

My heart goes out to all those who are fighting their convictions on their own because my experience has really opened my eyes wide to how solicitors really work - with out anyone to keep on at them pushing - prodding and above all watching them, we are lambs to the slaughter.

Other hostages who have told their stories in 'Inside Out' have given me a surge of strength, just to know that I am not alone in fighting and exposing the rotten judicial system. My beliefs are that we are strong and getting stronger and getting the message out that justice in the UK is a farce.

I feel confident in myself and Paddy Hill's word are etched in my brain, 'Prepared for the worst - hoping for the best - and will take what comes', I'll never stop fighting until I get my conviction quashed, regardless how long it takes. One thing's for sure I'll continue to be a thorn to the prison service for the duration.

I spent nearly all of '2001', on a dirty protest and my heart is with those four men in HMP Frankland, on dirty protest, right now nothing is more certain I would like to be with them all the way. Shame is a lot of others don't even as much as consider showing solidarity - trouble is, now prisoners worry more about losing their colour tvs or play-stations, they are too engrossed with pleasure to give a minutes thought to all those prisoners up and down the country who are on basic or in segregation. My heart is with all those under the hammer of the prison service and I will never cease to support them.

I am very grateful for all the letters of support and solidarity I have received and hope to hear from a lot more of you outside, I will write back to anyone who writes in.

As I head for the court of appeal, "I have nothing to hide and no one to fear - my hopes will be high as I sit in front of the judges - but until they correct what they got so terribly wrong five years ago, then I assure each and everyone of you - there will be no surrender- so lets get ready to rumble,

In struggle and solidarity,
Paul Lyons
RP1464
HMP Whitemoor
Longhill Road
March
PE15 oPR

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Paul Lyons - update - the Persecution Never Stops

On the morning of the 22nd of October, I came out of my cell, ready to go to the Court of Appeal in The Strand. Surprise, Surprise as I'm getting into the van, the screws tell me, it's not the Court of Appeal I'm going to but to Woolwich Crown Court, which is part of HMP Belmarsh, reason they said was because of security issues as I was a convicted prison rioter, (total bollocks, were they expecting me to smash my way out of the Court of Appeal).

Anyway, me and my two mates, (three of us are appealing) are finally ushered into court and sat down in front of a 12 foot high bullet proof screen, (which I think was to protect us from the Metropolitan Armed Response Unit) accompanied by 12 screws.

Our appeal was listed for four days but was over in two and a half. My legal team did a good job, they proved the facts we wanted. No decision was made on the day, we now have to wait it out.

So that's the situation, here I am stuck in a special unit, in limbo, pacing the cell floor like a caged lion, not knowing what's happening, not knowing when I will learn my fate.

If my wrongful conviction for conspiracy to commit murder is successful then I should be release immediately as my other sentences for GBH- escape- prison mutiny are all spent now.

So y'all appreciate I am a nervous wreck!

We are all aware how the state operates. So my feet are firmly on the ground and what ever the out-come I'll take it on the chin. It I get a positive result, I'll make contact with you all when I get outside - if it's negative - then the fight will continue.

Best regards to
all those out side and
the 'Hostages' inside,
           Paul Lyons
Paul Lyons  RP1464
HMP Belmarsh
Western Way, London, SE28 OEB.

A word from MOJUK:
Waiting for a decision to be handed down is the worst time for any 'Hostage' and contact from outside is more important than ever, so when y'all done reading this message, do send Paul a letter/postcard.

Many thanks,

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Paul Lyons, HMP Whitemoor,

would like to thank all those who sent him a card for the festive season. He has been unable to send cards back as the governor at Whitemoor has refused to let him have the cards that his family had bought for him to post out. Didn’t get out of segregation until Christmas eve, but was denied canteen facilities when he was.