It took a jury thirty minutes this afternoon to return a NOT GUILTY verdict in the battery trial of the State of Florida v. Robert S. Minton.

Bob's attorneys, Denis deVlaming, Kim Rivelini and Chuck deVlaming did an excellent job of educating the jury about the Church of Scientology's policies and practices of destroying anyone they perceive as an enemy. They were able to show the jury in less than a day and a half of testimony and arguments that Richard Howd was under orders to provoke an incident with Bob Minton on the night of October 31, 1999, just as Frank Offman was under orders to provoke an incident on September 10, 1998.

After the verdict was announced one of the many reporters covering the trial asked a juror why they had found Minton not guilty. The juror replied simply, "It was a set-up."

Thanks to this trial and the media that will result from it, many more people will be informed about the Church of Scientology's policy of destroying its perceived enemies. The more people learn about this "church's" fair game practices, the less Scientology will be able to practice its deceit and abuse.

Stacy Brooks