Conviction for "Thought Crime"

I would like to bring to the attention of the readers the plight of one Tony Mansfield convicted (about August 8) and sentenced to 3½ years imprisonment. Not only was the conviction extraordinary considering the merits of the case but it has political overtones as Tony has been an activist in Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch over the past three years. From the Dominions report and Tony's account he sold an undercover policeman David Keith Wylie a segment of blotting paper containing Easter egg paint for $28 and offered to supply 'LSD' valued at $100. Tony's defence was that he was aware that the individual was a police agent and went through with the transaction in order to expose him. Knowing Tony personally I am convinced that if he was to sell LSD (heaven forbid) he would not sell Easter egg paint to gullible hippies for a quick buck which is the way the Judge interpreted the events. The jury found Tony not guilty of false pretences in that he offered LSD and sold vegetable dye, so that the option was left open to convict Tony for selling the dye while he was under the impression it was LSD.

The jury/judge were not prepared to accept the exposure of the police agent as being deliberate and much preferred to remove Tony from public life for a period of 3½ years.

The police's eagerness to obtain a conviction on the imprisonable offence is not surprising when considering Tony's past radicalism. He and his girlfriend managed Resistance in Wellington for most of 1971. In that year he was convicted for offences during Vietnam demonstrations. In the 1970—71 period he was convicted of inciting demonstrators at Mt John.

We have not yet heard whether he intends to appeal, however at the age of 19 and his wife looking after their baby imprisonment tor that period of time would appear to be a gloomy prospect. The fact that a person can be imprisoned for suggestion of intent even when that intent involved vegetable dye is a warning of the extent to which various 'thought crimes' in the field of drugs and demonstrations (viz Owen Wilkes conviction) are being increasingly used as mechanisms of social control.

If you wish to know more about the case or can offer advice and assistance in publicising it or pressing for an appeal contact: Counterculture, Box 6076, Dunedin or Wellington Resistance.