Rick Hudson, abandoned trucker -- NEWS WITH ATTITUDE

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Date Posted: 20:18:10 08/06/00 Sun
Author: Russ Hamer
Subject: Rick Hudson, abandoned trucker

Rick Hudson has been in Macedonian prison now for just over a year. He was a trucker
delivering supplies for NATO forces in the Balkans. He was accused, tried and convicted
of causing death by dangerous driving after a speeding car lost control and crashed on
the opposite carriageway sadly killing the driver and one passenger. Three others were
injured. Rick, with other truckers and motorists, had stopped to help after the accident.
Rick was arrested because he was sporting NATO badges on his truck!
There is more to this, of course, and have every sympathy with the bereaved of the
speeding driver and passenger but in court vital evidence was suppressed or ignored.
Three Croatian tanker drivers were not called or their eye witness evidence not heard.
A taccograph from several hours before during Rick's passage through Greece was used
in evidence instead of the correct record.
The engineers report that proved that the crashed vehicle has been travelling in excess
of 100 mph, before it began its 65 meter skid and 35 meter roll still hitting a vehicle
behind Rick's at over 30 mph, was brushed aside.
A plan of the accident shows Rick's truck in an inaccurate and impossible road position
that would be laughable in other circumstances.
No contact was made between Rick's vehicle and the crashed car.
No blood test, a legal requirement, was made of the dead driver.
The car was not tested for road worthiness.
Rick had been signed into the country by a border guard bearing a type of insurance
green card that had shortly before been invalidated by the Macedonian government.

Much of this information did not become available until long after Rick's swift conviction
and incarceration and despite appeals he remains in prison. NATO have abandoned him
and politicians, however well intentioned, seem unable to help.
In January this year Rick was moved to Skopje jail and reports appeared in the local
press that he was a soldier working for KFOR responsible for the death of two
Macedonians! For a while his life was in real danger from inmates and it was only the
protective friendship he struck with four Indian prisoners, his obvious genteel and open
nature and his faith that prevented him from ending up with a knife in his back. (They
have their own cutlery!)
Rick is such a gentleman that his name was actually top of a list produced by the prison
governor recommended to the president of Macedonia for early release in an amnesty
granted each August in that country. His name was deleted last week by committee
before it reached the president.
Shortly before that a claim by relatives of the deceased and injured, thwart again with
inaccuracies, was upheld in a civil court. Presumably that was why Rick's name was
withdrawn from the release list. Which is a shame because he has no chance of ever
paying the �111,600.00 demanded as he apparently should never, like hundreds, perhaps
thousands of other truckers, been allowed through the country with that invalid
insurance card. His company cannot pay, NATO do not want to know and he has lost
everything, including his home, in legal costs.
His parents, sister and friends have worked hard to bring this despicable travesty of
justice to the attention of those with power. Progress is being made but too slowly,
especially in the light of recent developments in the area that could once again place
Rick in danger. Not that he is living in the lap of luxury with 691 fleas to share his
blanket, his 10 meter square cell and the food that is brought in for him.
A fund raising event has been organised for the 25th August at "The Spot" in his home
town of Derby, England. Two great bands, Burdock and DIP, are performing free of
charge, substantial raffle prizes have been donated, notables such as Philip Whitehead,
MEP, will give up their time to attend and update us. We expect but still pray for media
coverage. Support is growing but more is needed.
The trouble is that it is not sympathy that is required. Or people to assume that as a
trucker he must be guilt of smuggling illegal immigrants or drugs. Rick needs people to
know what really happened to him, tell others, write him a letter, send him food, books
or insect repellent, come to the event in Derby, write to their MP, write to their
newspaper, make a donation, and ask NATO, the European Courts of Justice, Human
Rights organisations, the British FO and the Macedonian government why this innocent
man has had his life ruined.
If you can just do one of these things you will have helped. If you do them all, and more
you will begin to get a bruise on your forehead off that wall. If many do it perhaps the
wall will crack. Justice may prevail and we will get Rick back.
Please help.
Rick's address....
Richard Owen Hudson G.B.
K P D
Idrizavo
Skopje
Republic of Macedonia

The appeal fund....
Mr. and Mrs G Hudson
52, Hillside,
Findern,
Derby DE65 6AW
or
Barclays Bank Derby
Sort Code 202585
Account No. 90279196

Homepage, out of date, no time, perhaps you can help here...?
<a rel=nofollow target=_blank href="http://:www.geocities.com/carpetsquare/">http://:www.geocities.com/carpetsquare/</a>

Or call me for more information, or ways to assist, on..
+44(0)1332 384150 daytime
07774 619678 Mobile
Russ@carpetsquare.demon.co.uk

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Replies:

Re: Rick Hudson, abandoned trucker -- Mike, 12:42:07 11/19/00 Sun
Re: Rick Hudson, abandoned trucker -- Russ Hamer, 17:30:52 11/22/00 Wed
Re: Rick Hudson, abandoned trucker -- Lynette, 21:52:51 02/19/01 Mon