196

Now Mr. Minton may believe that he was
protesting at night, 10:30 at night. It is up to you
decide whether that is proper. It is not a crime that we
are charging him with, but it is a part of the
circumstances that I want you to consider, 10:30 at night
on a Sunday night. How much of the message is really
getting out. I want you to consider the demeanor of Mr.
Minton and the Scientologists. You will see it all.

I think when this is done you will agree
that Mr. Minton is the one who lost his cool. Mr. Minton
was the one who was provoking people that night. I am
going to ask you to find him guilty of battery. Thank
you.

THE COURT: Counsel for Defendant, opening
statement.

MR. DENIS DE VLAMING: Your Honor, if it
please the Court. Members of the jury this is my
opportunity to give an opening statement on behalf of Mr.
Minton. In doing so I too would like to recap the
evidence in this case, and to a certain extent the video
says what the video says, and the video shows what the
video shows. However in order to fully understand the
facts in this case we have to go back in time. You will
learn to a very limited degree a little bit about the
Church of Scientology and one particular aspect of their