- A preacher who held up a sign in a town square calling
for an end to homosexuality, lesbianism and immorality was "properly
convicted" of a criminal offence, the High Court ruled yesterday.
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- Two senior judges dismissed arguments that the conviction
of the late Harry Hammond, 69, an evangelical Christian, for displaying
an "insulting" sign interfered with his freedom of religious
expression and infringed his human rights.
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- The sign caused a furore as a group of 30 to 40 people
gathered round. Mr Hammond had soil thrown at him and water poured over
his head.
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- Lord Justice May, sitting with Mr Justice Harrison, said
it had been open to magistrates in Wimborne, Dorset, to convict Mr Hammond
in April 2002.
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- Mr Hammond's behaviour "went beyond legitimate protest".
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- Executors of Mr Hammond's estate brought the appeal in
an attempt to clear his name. Mr Hammond had been convicted under the 1986
Public Order Act.
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- © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004.
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