A Catholic priest has told a jury that he attacked a dome at the Waihopai spy base near Blenheim to protect others from serious injuries.
Father Peter Murnane, Sam Land and Adrian Leason are before Wellington District Court jointly charged with intentional damage and entering a property with intent to commit a crime.
The Crown prosecutor alleges the accused cut through wire fences to gain access to the spy base, and then used sickles to deflate the dome.
Father Murnane and lawyers for his co-accused said they acted to save the lives of those who would be endangered by United States intelligence gathered from the base.
A security guard gave evidence that she saw the three accused holding what appeared to be a prayer meeting near the deflating dome.
She says they also had a candle burning, and anti-war banners on the ground.
Anti-war protesters filled the courtroom's public gallery, and also protested outside the court house, during the hearing on Monday.
