Anti - war activist receives suspended sentence and probation . Peter Bethune says he did not intend to kill anyone . Weeks later , Bethune jumped aboard the Shonan Maru 2 and attempted to make a citizen 's arrest of the captain . Bethune admits he threw butyric acid at Japanese whaling ship . They were protesting Japan 's whale - hunting policy .
Anti - war activist receives suspended sentence and probation . Peter Bethune says he did not intend to kill anyone . Bethune admits he threw butyric acid at Japanese whaling ship . They were protesting Japan 's whale - hunting policy .