Journalism of Courage
Six British pro-Palestinian activists went on trial on Tuesday after being accused of taking part in an organised break-in at a factory operated by Israeli defence company Elbit Systems UK in Bristol. Prosecutors say the group intended to cause major damage and were prepared to use violence.
Prosecutor Deanna Heer told the court that the defendants were involved in a planned operation with two teams — “black team” and “red team”. Reuters reported that Heer said the plan was agreed “step-by-step” in advance.
According to Heer, the black team’s role was to threaten security staff, while the red team, which she said included the defendants, would enter the site and “cause as much damage as possible”. She told the court that all members were armed with sledgehammers “to both cause damage and also to threaten and damage people”.
One defendant, Samuel Corner, 23, is also accused of hitting a female police sergeant across the back with a sledgehammer. Reuters reported that he denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The defendants, Charlotte Head, 29; Corner, 23; Leona Kamio, 20; Fatema Zainab Rajwani, 21; Zoe Rogers, 22; and Jordan Devlin, 31 have denied aggravated burglary, violent disorder and criminal damage.
Judge Jeremy Johnson told jurors that the government’s decision to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation is disputed by some, but said that dispute is not relevant in this trial. Reuters quoted him as saying: “You will appreciate that it is vitally important that you judge the case on the evidence, not on the basis of what you or anyone else thinks about Palestine Action or the war in Gaza.”
He noted that people hold strong views about the conflict, but jurors must put those views aside.
Earlier on Tuesday, Reuters reported that Elbit Systems said its third-quarter profit had risen, boosted by sales to Israel’s military and increased global defence spending.
