Morgan was detained after covering a demonstration by Greenpeace against the US Government’s ‘Star Wars’ system at Vandenburg Air Force base in California. A Spanish videographer and 15 Greenpeace activists were also arrested. Still indicted on two felony charges, conspiracy and entering a safety zone, he will have to return to the USA to face trial on these counts.

Trial date set

The trial date is at present set for 20 November but may well be moved six months ahead. If convicted he faces up to six years in jail though a more probable prison sentence would be in the zero to six months range.

Released after a week in jail at the maximum security Lerdo Correction facility in Bakersfield, Morgan along with the nine Greenpeace activists who are also foreign nationals has spent the last three and half months in Los Angeles unable to travel outside the Central California district.

His wife Heather and two small sons George (5) and Henry (3) have been with him in LA for the past three months and will be flying back with him.

Statement

Morgan released a statement saying, “Whilst I am extremely happy to be coming back home to be with family and friends, this situation is by no means over. I will have to return to the States, maybe as early as November 10 to stand trial for just doing my job. The severity of the charges far outstrips any rational assessment of what went on that day. I just hope that the authorities can review this situation especially given that now the USA is facing far greater challenges and threats than a few well intentional peaceniks waving banners in the Pacific Ocean.”

“I am grateful to everyone who has shown their support for the situation we (my family and I) find ourselves in. The fight continues to try and have these charges dismissed”

Morgan arrives back in the UK on Saturday 27 October.