Anti - whaling activist facing charges of assault , trespassing . Peter ##man admits he did not intend to harm anyone . Prosecutors say the butyric acid burned two crew members of the Japanese whaling fleet , but Sea Shepherd calls it a harmless , Bethune admits he threw butyric acid at Japanese whaling ships . They were protesting Japan 's whale - hunting policies .
Anti - whaling activist facing charges of assault , trespassing . Peter ##man admits he did not intend to harm anyone . Bethune admits he threw butyric acid at Japanese whaling ships . They were protesting Japan 's whale - hunting policies .