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In a surprising turn of events, three activists from the group Just Stop Oil, who were accused of spraying Stonehenge with orange powder, have been acquitted of causing a public nuisance. The individuals involved in the incident were Rajan Naidu, Niamh Lynch, and Luke Watson, who were cleared of all charges after a 10-day trial at Salisbury Crown Court. The trio had been accused of damaging the ancient monument and causing a public disturbance as part of their ongoing protest against fossil fuels.
During the trial, Mr. Naidu, Ms. Lynch, and Mr. Watson defended their actions by citing a “reasonable excuse” and invoking their rights to freedom of speech and protest under the European Convention on Human Rights. The defendants argued that their protest was peaceful and that they took care to minimize any interference with the rights of others. Although the orange powder was promptly cleaned from the stones at a cost of £620, there was no lasting damage to the monument.
Despite the prosecution’s claims that the protest was an act of vandalism, Judge Paul Dugdale emphasized the importance of protecting the right to freedom of speech and protest. The jury, after six hours of deliberation, ultimately sided with the activists, leading to an acquittal. Following the verdict, the defendants expressed their relief and emphasized the importance of peaceful protest in a democratic society, reaffirming their commitment to fighting for environmental causes within the boundaries of the law
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