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Live from jail After more than two months in a Netherlands prison, Canadian-born environmentalist Paul Watson is about to find out whether he will be a free man again. Watson, president of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SCSS), has spent the last 68 days awaiting an extradition hearing requested by the Norwegian government. With the proceedings finally over, Watson will find out on Monday whether he will be set free or sent to complete his prison term in Norway. Watson is remarkably upbeat about the entire ordeal. "Norway is really regretting having done this," Watson told the Mirror in a phone interview from Lelystad penitentiary. "Two months ago, no one in the Netherlands had even heard of the SCSS. Now, all the media across Europe are covering this hearing, showing videotape of the Norwegian whale hunt. "We even received a show of support from Brigitte Bardot." Watson was convicted in absentia in a Norwegian court for his role in the sinking of the whaling ship Nybraena in 1992. He was arrested in Amsterdam April 2 by Dutch police acting on an Interpol warrant issued by Norway. Watson says his hearing did not go smoothly. One of the judges refused to view a whale-hunt videotape which was admitted as evidence. Also, while the Dutch legal system allows the defendant to give a 10-minute statement at the end of trial proceedings, the same judge walked out after Watson had spoken for only seven minutes. "My experience is that evidence is less relevant than the mood of the judges and jury members on a particular day," he said.
Nevertheless, Watson remains confident he will be released. Philip Preville
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