Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen is Released from Jail

Exciting news from the Sea Shepherd Society. The Sea Shepherd Society does incredible work, sacrificing freedom and risk of bodily harm to protect sea life across the world!

February 18, 2012
Sea Shepherd Cove Guardian Volunteer, Erwin VermeulenFebruary 16 was a very good day in court for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Cove Guardian volunteer, Erwin Vermeulen. In Wakayama, Japan, closing arguments were presented in the case of Erwin Vermeulen.
In Wakayama, following the closing arguments by both prosecution and defense, the judge signed an order, presented by the defense, for Erwin to be released from custody pending the judge’s verdict.  The prosecution exercised its right to appeal to a higher court in order to force Erwin to remain in detention for the remainder of the trial.  The trial judge took the extraordinary step of sending the paperwork to the higher court last night, thus ensuring that the appeal would be heard today.  The higher court sided with the trial judge and denied the prosecution’s appeal.  Erwin was released from jail and walked outside in the sunshine for the first time in 63 days and was reunited with fellow Cove Guardians. The first thing he did was call his girlfriend, his mother and went out to eat a vegan meal with his friends.

The full story is on their web site here.