Tories Call for Retrial in Palestine Action Protest Case
The Conservative Party has formally demanded a retrial for a group of Palestine Action activists involved in a break-in at an Israeli defence firm's facility near Bristol. This follows a trial where six protesters were cleared of aggravated burglary charges, despite the incident causing over £1 million in damages and leaving a police sergeant with severe spinal injuries.
Court Verdicts and Unresolved Charges
After a lengthy 12-week trial at Woolwich Crown Court, the jury deliberated for more than 36 hours before delivering their verdicts. While all six activists were acquitted of aggravated burglary, the jury failed to reach verdicts on several other serious charges. Samuel Corner, a 23-year-old Oxford-educated mathematician, faced a hung jury on the grievous bodily harm charge related to Sergeant Kate Evans' injuries. Additionally, all six defendants faced unresolved criminal damage charges involving red paint spraying and computer destruction with hammers.
Sergeant Evans suffered what was described as a 'shattered spine' after being struck with a sledgehammer during the August 2024 raid on the Elbit Systems building. Defence lawyers for Corner argued he was a 'gentle man' who acted to protect fellow activists and did not cause truly serious harm, though medical evidence contradicted this claim regarding the officer's condition.
Political Pressure for Retrial
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has written to Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson, urging him to seek a retrial on the unresolved charges. Philp cited Crown Prosecution Service guidelines that permit retrials when juries fail to reach verdicts, sufficient evidence exists for realistic conviction prospects, and the public interest warrants further legal action.
'I therefore urge you to seek a retrial on these charges,' Philp stated in his letter. 'There is no justification for this violence, no matter how strongly someone feels about a cause. This verdict risks giving the green light to mob violence in pursuit of a political objective.'
Police Federation Concerns
The Police Federation, representing frontline officers across the country, has also expressed serious concerns about the trial's outcome. In their own letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the organisation warned about 'operational and safety implications' for officers handling protests and public order situations moving forward.
The Federation particularly criticised Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who described the jury verdicts as a 'moral vindication' of the activists involved. The police organisation argued that such comments 'risked sending a message, intentional or not, that injury to police officers is an acceptable or incidental concern of political protest.'
Controversial Political Reactions
Polanski further inflamed tensions by retweeting conspiracy theorist Craig Murray, a former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan who has previously made controversial claims about international incidents. Murray questioned whether Sergeant Evans had actually been seriously injured, suggesting the incident might have been fabricated to justify proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
The Green leader added his own commentary: 'Pleased to see the jury make this decision. We need to have eyes wide open this is exactly why the Government wants to abolish juries. People protesting against a genocide are not the criminals here - it's the politicians who continue to provide cover.'
Tory Condemnation of Green Position
Conservative shadow minister Neil O'Brien responded forcefully to Polanski's position: 'A female police officer had her spine smashed with sledgehammer from behind and the Greens are jubilant they got off. These people are beyond disgusting.'
When approached for additional comment by media outlets, Polanski declined to elaborate further on his statements regarding the case and the activists involved.
Defendants and Case Details
The six cleared activists include:
- Samuel Corner, 23, Oxford-educated mathematician
- Charlotte Head
- Leona Kamio
- Fatema Rajwani
- Zoe Rogers
- Jordan Devlin
In addition to the aggravated burglary acquittals, Rajwani, Rogers and Devlin were found not guilty of violent disorder charges. However, no verdicts were reached on violent disorder charges against Head, Corner and Kamio, nor on criminal damage charges against all six defendants.
Following the trial's conclusion, all defendants except Corner were granted conditional bail during a Woolwich Crown Court hearing. The case has highlighted deep political divisions regarding protest methods, police safety, and the boundaries of political activism in contemporary Britain.
