steve benson ( )

Date: March 15, 2014 10:51PM Posted by:Date: March 15, 2014 10:51PM

--Preface



What follows are direct, quoted observations from Tom Phillips that he has made to me pertaining to the Westminster Magistrate's Court hearing of 14 March 2014, which was conducted under the supervision of presiding District Magistrate Riddle. As is my practice in these situations with Tom, I first vetted the following material through him, as he provided it to me, for his final review and approval. Tom has indicated to me that he is “happy for you to quote me. I trust your ability in this respect.” It is therefore cited here with Tom's express permission. Tom further notes that because I am quoting him from observations he made "prior to 14th March." he believes that releasing the following "may not be too much of a problem," and thus has given the go-ahead for their publication on RfM.



These observations represent Tom's overall assessment of facts on the ground immediately prior to the holding of the actual hearing itself and, at the time he made them, also represented what he called "the latest" from the Mormon Church's legal playbook. (Tom has since provided his own brief addendum to what follows, as to the Magistrate's ruling on the Mormon Church's effort to have a gag order imposed on the 14 March proceedings).



About Tom's assessments that are cited below, he observes, “I consider it to be fair comment by me, rather than the distortion of facts put out by the [Mormon] Church.”

_____





--The Mormon Church's Unsuccessful Attempt to Have the Presiding Magistrate Bar the Public from the 14 March 2014 Hearing



Tom Phillips:



“They [the Mormon Church’s lawyers] have asked for a closed hearing because the Church does not want this heard in public. [Tom's addendum: "This application was refused by District Judge Riddle, who considered it had to be heard in public."] They [the Mormon Church] will have a top Queens Counsel arguing for them in Court on Friday. Unheard of at a MC [Magistrate’s Court] hearing but then, of course, they have the Lord on their side.”

____







--The Mormon Church Attempt to Have the Summons Withdrawn



Tom Phillips:



"The Church ha[s] applied to the Senior District Judge at Westminster to have the summons withdrawn. They have submitted lengthy arguments to which I have to respond. The Court will then consider the merits of their argument at an oral hearing on 14th March."



“The Church's solicitors have requested the Senior District Judge at Westminster Magistrate's Court to withdraw the summons and they have lodged their arguments for this. They have also instructed a QC (Queen's Counsel) to appear at the hearing on 14th March for two hours to request the summons be withdrawn."



"Though their submissions, to me, are a nonsense, they have to be taken seriously and addressed appropriately, otherwise the danger is they may stand. Lying, corrupt cult even tries to distort the legal system to its benefit."



“None of their arguments are, in my opinion, legally valid. However, the Senior District Judge is willing to hear their argument and my response. He is obviously being fair in agreeing to a hearing. . . .



“The Church ha[s] failed to get it thrown out so far, therefore the stakes are high on [the] 14th. What should have been a mere formality now gets very interesting.”

_____





--The Mormon Church’s Anticipated Plan of Attack in the 14 March Court Hearing



Tom Phillips:



“They [the Mormon Church] will make a major attack on me being vexatious and on religious freedom. We'll see if the UK justice system holds up to their onslaught. At the moment, it appears I am on trial, not Monson.”

_____





--Possible Outcome of the 14 March 2014 Court Hearing



Tom Phillips:



“Even if we lose at this stage, we will know why and can repeat the action without the defects. So, it only delays the inevitable in my mind.”

_____





--Tom Phillips' Explanation of Why He Continues the Fight



Tom Phillips:



"How often I have wanted to pull out of this and get on with my life. Then I receive more emails from suffering victims pleading for me to hang in. . . . The Church is already briefing against me in the UK and as far away as New Zealand."



*****





Tom, we are supporting you here.







Edited 21 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/2014 12:34AM by steve benson.