Latest News : Update

Maurice Not Guilty Verdict

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:36:00 GMT

News just in that Maurice has been freed by a majority not guilty verdict. The jury fully acquitted Maurice on all charges at Cardiff Crown Court today. He's currently being processed and will be released shortly.

More information will be posted as soon as we hear more.

Court 5 Appearance / Posts

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:35:00 GMT

Very quickly...since we're making a mad dash to get to Court 5 at Cardiff Crown by 12pm today. Maurice has been given a hearing, but we don't know what about - Judge Llewelyn Jones is presiding.

Based on prison information, he is to be taken to court. It is possible this might mean he's now taking food, but if it's to do with sectioning him, then maybe not.

His family solicitor was unable to attend him today to sort out his will and power of attorney due to the sudden court appearance. Will report back later today.

BTW some people believe their posts are not being allowed up. Only one post has been heavily edited on instructions from Maurice, some have been moved to better places. All other posts should be getting through without any issues. We don't hold them back for editorial approval when initially posted. Site ran out of disk space last couple of weeks, while we were on holiday, which maybe the cause of any posts not going up. Has been rectified by upgrading Maurice's web server account.

If posts still do not appear, I'll provide a support email later today for you to send me your posts directly, as we don't have time for a bug hunt at the moment.

PS. Maurice appreciates comments that are supportive, informative and based on the facts... Keep the hyperbole and personal agendas down to a minimum plz. We're trying to maintain as wide an audience as possible.

We also need clear, consise and factual information, avoid bloat and ranting if poss.

Thanks PIE221

Problems posting? Think your post been removed? Email support@kirkflyingvet.com

Taking Food Again?

admin — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:08:00 GMT

Yesterday (04/08/09) I visited Maurice, prison number AK6632, at HMPS Cardiff. He is very thin and is feeling weak. He did not think that he would be able to walk from the healthcare block to the visiting area at my next booked visit (Saturday). He seemed resolute and as astute as ever, but did not answer me when I asked how much longer he intended to carry on refusing food.

I told him that it is likely that he will be sectioned under the Mental Health Act for 28 days "for assessment". He, as I, strongly believe that there is no creditable reason that he should be sectioned.

Maurice is an oustandingly intelligent man of principle with a fierce sense of justice. He is an irritant to heavy handed authority and is being treated inhumanely. He is sometimes contraversial, incredibly focused and very stubborn. Psychiatric wards will be filled very quickly, if these are admittance criteria.

I have been told this afternoon (05/08/09) that Maurice is taking food again. I have been unable to verify this as no-one was available to speak to me at HMPS Cardiff. Noone has returned my calls. I have telephoned the Ministry of Justice and been redirected to the department that deals with offenders' cases. Before I can be told whether my husband remains on hunger strike I must pose my question in writing. Presumably I will receive a response within 28 days.

Similarly, I have requested information regarding blood and urine tests carried out this past week. I must apply in writing. 28 days is too long to wait for a response in these circumstances. Maurice is ketotic and possibly already suffering some renal damage: drinking water but barely/not urinating.

I have contacted Maurice's preferred psychiatrist to try to arrange an independent opinion - he is on holiday until September. I am keen to contact a psychiatrist outside this area who might be able to assist or recommend a colleague.

I hope to get more information soon.

Kirstie Kirk

Serious Developments

admin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:47:00 GMT

The latest news is that Maurice refused to appear at his bail hearing yesterday, because the court refused him Habeas Corpus (his right to appear in court in person to defend himself against the law). Instead they would have only allowed him to appear via video link. As a result of his unwillingness to attend the hearing, the judge ordered him to be psychiatrically examined.

Maurice is being held in solitary confinement at present and he belives that after having the examination yesterday, they are going to have him sectioned to remove his right to make judgments on his own behalf.

In response to this he has begun a hunger strike.

30lb Lighter

Kirstie Kirk — Mon, 19 May 2008 09:27:00 GMT

Hello

I was correct. M did stop eating while at the Houston Deportation Centre and has returned some 30lb lighter than he set off. He always loses weight when he does an appreciable amount of flying (so much flying to do, so little time to eat...) but 30lb in a short time is rather excessive and he looks positively scrawny. Last Saturday found us in casualty as he was so unwell. He was discharged to rest, drink lots of water and eat small light meals - he has done none of these and is now having difficulty in eating at all. However, little changes and pale, wan and thin as he is he has started to tackle the CAA in an effort to have his licences restored.

I gather from the FCO that Houston Deportation Centre described M as being difficult to deal with ....(not so easy to live with sometimes).

KK (M's wife)

Heading Home to the UK

Kirstie Kirk — Fri, 16 May 2008 07:34:00 GMT

Hello

Have received some encouraging news from FCO this afternoon (Thurs.). M is expected to be home soon.

I have had no opportunity to speak to him but I gather that he has telephoned friends in Texas. I am told that he does not sound too well. I was probably correct in my assumption that he would stop eating in a protest re his predicament.

Let's see what tomorrow brings. The next post may be by M.

KK (M's wife)

Nil Information

Kirstie Kirk — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:26:00 GMT

Hello (Monday pm)

M's friend travelled to Austin deportation centre to visit m today - M is allowed one person to visit for one hour once a week - Monday between 9am and 1pm.

He was not allowed access to M as M is in "segregation"? Our equivalent of solitary confinement, I suppose.

On receiving this information I telephoned the consular office in Houston. Perhaps more information can be discovered tomorrow.

It may be that he prefers his own company at the moment.

I hope that he is not refusing food - he alluded to this when being held at Austin State Hospital and I'm afraid that the conditions that were frustrating him then are now magnified.

It would be good to know when he is likely to be back here in GB. I certainly find this somewhat protracted "nil information" time rather difficult, not least because one can only speculate on the true situation.

KK (M's wife)

Only One Step Up From Jail

Kirstie Kirk — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:08:00 GMT

Good evening (Sunday pm)

Still no positive news. I understand that M will be deported, probably within 10 working days if all is straightforward (can any of this be straightforward - none has been so far).

I haven't spoken to M for 10 days and hope that he is OK. I suspect that that he's bearing up. I was told that a deportation centre is "one step up from jail". Perhaps he's more comfortable than here at home.

His friends haven't managed to track all his belongings - some appear to be missing including his video records of this trip and his GPS.

Hope very much to hear more soon.

KK (M's wife)

Out of the Frying Pan into a Sink

Kirstie Kirk — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:42:00 GMT

Hello

(Wednesday am in GB)

M is still being held at a deportation centre at Houston. This is confirmed by consular staff. There is no indication yet of when he will travel to GB, but I hope to hear soon (there is still washing up waiting).

I have been told a variety of stories regarding this second detention though a clear common theme is that he was offered the opportunity of release on the condition that he signed papers accepting that he was intoxicated. He maintained that he was not and so would not sign. At this juncture the immigration/deportation system came into play.

I have not spoken to M since Thursday and I don't think that consular staff have spoken to him yet. M's friends have been unable to speak to him by telephone as he has no money to buy a ‘phone card - and couldn't be sent any until we could quote his "alien number". This number was given to me yesterday afternoon.

Hopefully, he will be able to make contact soon. He will be pleased to hear that his little aircraft is safe. We are trying to track his belongings, but this is not easy without direct communication.

I expect that he is fine.

KK (M's wife)

Deportation from United States

admin — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:50:00 GMT

Hello

Today I received news of M. I was in contact with the consular office late on Friday. The saga isn't over yet.

I was told that he was invited to a restaurant for a beer (probably Thursday evening). He said he was outside sitting on a bench with other people, when he was picked up by the police. (This is in line with the information that I initially received via the FCO on Friday.)

Police stated that he had been seen walking around town aimlessly with a gas can.

M believes that the secret service traced him to this location by him using his credit card and the public intoxication charge was used to hold him until the Secret Service arrived. Three agents told Maurice he landed on a road near Crawford, and this is the reason for his deportation. Robert Rutt 237(a)(4)(A)(2) of immigration act.

As admission you have engaged or at any time after admission were engaged in a criminal activity which endangers public safety or national security.

He was given the opportunity for secret service to drive him to the airport for flight to London, and would not be deported. But he did not want the charges on his record for offenses he did not commit.

When he refused, they shackled him in hand and ankle cuffs and chains, and taken to Deportation Center in Houston.

M wants the media to know about this.

KK (M's wife)