Jurors in the trial of four pro-Palestinian activists accused of causing criminal damage to an aerospace factory in the Black Country were instructed to disregard a protest that took place outside Birmingham Crown Court as they were being sworn in.
The defendants—Iain Evans, Hisham Alkhamesi, Bea Sherman (also known as Frank Sherman), and Hana Yun-Stevens—all deny a single count of causing criminal damage to Moog Wolverhampton Ltd’s Pendeford site on August 26 last year. Police reported that significant damage was inflicted on several skylights and solar panels during the early hours of that day.
During the jury selection on Thursday, protesters gathered outside the court, holding banners and distributing leaflets related to the conflict in the Middle East. High Court Judge Mr Justice Wall addressed the newly sworn jury, comprising seven women and five men, urging them to remain impartial.
“It is your job to assess the evidence and decide what happened and, where appropriate, what was in someone’s mind when they acted as they did,” the judge said. “This might be a case which, as today, attracts people to gather at or outside court. They might say things or hold banners and seek to distribute leaflets about the conflict in the Middle East. If that happens you must ignore them – do not engage with what is going on. They are entitled to their views but you must not let their views influence your judgement.”
The defendants, aged 23 to 33, come from various locations across England: Evans, 33, from Shipley, West Yorkshire; Alkhamesi, 23, from Hinckley, Leicestershire; Sherman, 23, from Ditchling, East Sussex; and Yun-Stevens, 24, from south-west London. They entered not guilty pleas at a previous hearing.
The jury was dismissed until Friday, June 5, when prosecutor Rupert Jones is expected to open the Crown’s case.
