Japan court convicts anti-whaling activist

Anti-whaling activist Peter Bethune (pictured) was given a two-year suspended prison sentence and five years' probation Wednesday by a Tokyo district court judge for his role in boarding a Japanese whaling ship.

Bethune was found guilty on five charges, ranging from assault against whalers to trespassing onto a whaling vessel. Bethune had previously pleaded guilty to all charges but assault.

The New Zealand citizen could have received up to 15 years behind bars in Japanese prison.

At the May hearing, Bethune tearfully described the January collision between the Shonan Maru 2 and the Sea Shepherd's multi-million-dollar catamaran style speedboat, the Ady Gil. The crash sunk the Ady Gil (pictured), which Bethune captained.

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