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Court:
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City of London Magistrates’ – Court 2 |
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Hearing date:
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Tuesday, 27th April 2021 |
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Bench (DJ or JPs)
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Lay Bench |
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Charged with:
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Wilful Obstruction of the Highway on 15/10/2019 on Millbank |
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Represented by:
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Self, pleading Not Guilty. |
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Please outline key points in prosecution and defence cases.
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An impassioned mitigation statement, but it was based on necessity, so it failed. I have asked her to send a copy to xr-statements. |
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Was defence evidence submitted in writing?
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She was initially asked how her defence would run, so I assume nothing was submitted in writing. |
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Did defence witness(es) give evidence in person? Were they cross-examined? |
She was the only defence witness, she was cross-examined. She gave as good as she got: when CPS asked her if she was preventing death by sitting in the road, she answered, “Yes! My friends in Natal who are barely surviving as farmers.” |
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What was the verdict,
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In sentencing, the Bench said that they did recognise the strength of her argument. Her actions did not satisfy her need to save life, it was not immediate, so she was Guilty, 12 months c/d; £775 costs; £21 v/s at £100 per month. She did have a conviction for a later protest. The Bench allowed consolidated payment (to start when the other offence was paid off). |
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Please add anything else relevant.
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This was the second of three cases scheduled to last 1 day in this court, i.e. a group. CPS asked for £200 for the G case and £775 each for the other two NGs. Up till now the costs for a group have been shared among the guilty, which should not have exceeded £775 in total. I found this result to be horrific – and very relevant! |
Charge
Outcome
Court date