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The front of the Ady Gill is seen ripped open after its collision with Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru 2 - Source: ONE News -
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Pete Bethune appears in court in Japan today.
The anti-whaling activist is facing charges of trespass, possession of a weapon, injury to persons, damage to property and obstructing commercial activity.
His wife said yesterday that her husband will plead guilty to four of the five charges laid against him. However Sharon Bethune says he will be pleading not guilty to the most serious charge, of assault, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years.
ONE News believes his legal team is in a last minute push for a suspended sentence.
Bethune's legal team hopes their client will be let off with a slap on the wrist. Defence lawyer Dan Harris says it's quite possible he will be found guilty on at least some of the charges, then let go.
Harris hopes his client will be released on time served, because of the 100 days he has already spent in captivity, counting his time on the ship.
Harris says the chances the Japanese will extradite Bethune are pretty good and he believes the Japanese judges won't buy into the hype over his client's anti-whaling charges. Harris says whaling is a politically charged issue in Japan and he believes that's what is driving the prosecution.
Harris says it's a very, very low level criminal case.
A representative for New Zealand's Ambassador to Japan will observe court today at the trial. But the father of the anti-whaling protester says that level of support is simply not good enough.
Don Bethune is disappointed New Zealand officials aren't backing his son. He says the Ambassador has backtracked on an assurance to make sure New Zealand citizens in Japan are treated fairly.
Bethune says having someone simply observe court proceedings is hardly the same. He says given the rubber stamp success rate of Japanese courts, he can't be confident of a positive outcome for his son.
Sea Shepherd New Zealand co-ordinator Bill Watson says officials have made a few unusual moves ahead of the trial. He says they have reduced the size of the court room to limit the number of reporters and increased the number of judges from one to three.
The charges were laid after Bethune, 42, boarded the Japanese vessel the Shonan Maru 2 in protest at the sinking of his own boat, the Ady Gil, when it was in a collision with the whaler.
The anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd has lawyers of its own working alongside Bethune's two Japanese lawyers. Seattle-based law firm, Harris & Moure, will have two of its lawyers in Tokyo during the trial both to assist Bethune's Japanese defence team and to explain Sea Shepherd's position regarding the trial and Japan's whaling operations.
Sea Shepherd New Zealand co-ordinator, Bill Watson says one problem they are facing is the cost which could mount up as the court process could be a lengthy one. Two Greenpeace activists charged two years ago are only just going on trial next month.
Bethune was detained on board the Japanese whaler before being taken to Japan and charged with trespass, causing injury, vandalism, carrying a knife and obstructing commercial activities.
Bethune's US lawyer Dan Harris has criticised the Japanese authorities for trying to stage "a political show trial".
The Green Party has criticised the government for failing to ensure the completion of a Maritime New Zealand report on the sinking in time for use by defence lawyers at the trial.
"The Maritime New Zealand investigation into the alleged ramming of the Ady Gil is critical to Pete's defence, and yet it remains incomplete and secret after all these months," Green MP Gareth Hughes said.
Prime Minister John Key has said the maritime report on the sinking of the Ady Gil required input from Japan, which had been slow in coming.
Key said Bethune was getting support from New Zealand diplomats and there would be an official presence during the trial.
If convicted, the maximum combined sentence Bethune faces could be 25 years jail and a fine of up to $30,000.
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