Pilgrim nuclear plant protesters heading to trial
PLYMOUTH — A group of Cape Downwinders are scheduled to stand trial Tuesday in Plymouth District Court for trespassing on the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station property after two protest rallies last spring.
The alleged trespassers, who live in a scattering of towns on the Cape, are looking forward to their day in court.
Downwinders co-founder Diane Turco, a Harwich resident, said Plymouth District Court Judge Beverly Cannone told the defendants, at a pretrial hearing Wednesday, there was basis in this case for the "necessity defense,"
That defense is defined as the attempt to prove circumstances may justify actions that violate the law.
In addition to Turco, those arrested after a May rally include Margaret Rice-Moir of Brewster; Douglas Long of Orleans; Janet Azarovitz, William Maurer and Joyce Johnson, all of Falmouth; Femke Rosenbaum of Wellfleet; and Debra McCulloch of Truro.
The defendants contend they were trying to deliver a letter to Entergy Corp., the company that owns and operates the Plymouth power plant.
Downwinders arrested and charged after a March trespassing incident were Susan Carpenter of South Dennis, Mike Risch of Falmouth, Paul Rifkin of Cotuit and Elaine Dickinson of Harwich.
The two cases have been merged.
According to Turco, jury selection will begin Tuesday. The group has a list of expert witnesses they intend to call.
Earlier this year, Downwinders were disappointed when similar trespassing charges were dismissed shortly before a scheduled trial.
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