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At Woolwich Crown Court, three activists from the group Palestine Action were acquitted of violent disorder charges related to a protest at the UK site of an Israeli defense firm. The defendants, Charlotte Head (29), Samuel Corner (23), and Leona Kamio (30), were linked to an incident involving a break-in at the Elbit Systems facility near Bristol. However, Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC revealed on Monday that the Crown Prosecution Service would not present any evidence regarding the violent disorder allegations.
Although cleared of violent disorder, the three defendants, alongside Fatema Zainab Rajwani (21), Zoe Rogers (22), and Jordan Devlin (31), still face charges of criminal damage. Additionally, Samuel Corner is charged with grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, in connection with an incident involving a police officer named Kate Evans. Justice Johnson formally acquitted Head, Corner, and Kamio of the violent disorder charge, directing that not guilty verdicts be entered on that count.
The trial against all six defendants continues, with the criminal damage charges still under consideration. The prosecution is anticipated to begin presenting their case on Wednesday, following the jury’s swearing-in. Before adjourning the court, Justice Johnson reminded the jurors to focus solely on the evidence presented during the trial and to disregard any external issues, including political opinions or ongoing legal disputes surrounding the listing of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization.
The judge emphasized that jurors must “put any views they may have about the Israeli military operations in Gaza to one side,” stating that moral justifications or personal opinions about the conflict are irrelevant to their duties. He also instructed the jury to remain unaffected by the presence of demonstrators outside the courthouse, who gathered supporting the defendants, waving Palestinian flags and holding signs during the proceedings
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