Uncle Jim Everett’s supporters gather as Palawa elder sentenced over trespass

Palawa elder Uncle Jim Everett was no where to be seen at the Hobart Magistrates Court, however that didn’t stop the judge from handing down a sentence.

A courtroom outburst and a hearing no-show have not been able to stop a conviction for Palawa elder Uncle Jim Everett, with a hearing held in his absence on Tuesday.

Mr Everett faces two counts of trespass on land in the Hobart Magistrates Court, with Magistrate Chris Webster directing his hearing on the one count related to trespass at a Sustainable Timber Tasmania (STT) Styx Valley logging coupe on March 19 last year.

The other charge relating to an alleged trespass in a Bradys Lake logging coupe was adjourned until April.

Supporters of Uncle Jim and other logging activists stood outside the Hobart court prior to the hearing, with Palawa community member Ruth Langford stating Mr Everett was only standing by his “natural law”.

“There is municipal, state and federal law and then there is natural law,” she said.

“Natural law is what governs all of us and that is what Uncle Jim is going by.

“He was following natural law in protecting his country in lutruwita forest.”

The court heard from STT senior officer Scott Marriot who gave directions to protestors including Mr Everett to leave in March last year.

“At around 9am, I was given information of a protest out at a Styx Valley coupe, so I move out their and catch up with Tasmania Police at the coupe,” he said.

“I turned up with police and saw a group of people around the landing of the harvesting machine and that some of the machinery had been locked.”

Mr Marriot told the court that the protestors had “no authorisation” to be in the logging coupe and after he gave the protestors a direction to leave, all but Mr Everett left the site.

Police then gave Mr Everett a direction to leave, which he also refused and was subsequently arrested.

The testimony from another STT officer Lee Morris was also tendered as evidence in court, with the man seeking damages against Mr Everett.

This matter was also adjourned to the same date as the other trespass charge.

As Magistrate Webster stated he would record a conviction for the one count of trespass, Ms Langford stood up in the rear of the court and said Mr Everett was only “protecting his country”.

“He is only standing up for his own country,” she said.

“He is being punished for a law that does not apply.

“Uncle Jim stands up for the land.”

Magistrate Webster ordered Ms Langford out of the court, stating he had “no idea” who Mr Everett was.

“If Mr Everett wanted to say anything, he would be here, in fact how do you know that what you’re saying is representing his wishes.”

Magistrate Webster recorded a conviction and ordered Mr Everett to pay a fine of $500, plus $78 in court costs.