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 .
Anti-whaling activist receives suspended sentence and probation . Peter Bethune says he did not intend to harm anyone . Bethune admits he threw butyric acid at Japanese whaling ship . Activists were protesting Japan 's whale-hunting practices .