Four Greenpeace activists have been cleared of criminal charges related to a protest at former U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s estate in North Yorkshire. The activists were accused of causing criminal damage by allegedly cracking tiles on Sunak’s slate roof during their demonstration. Judge Adrian Lower at the York Magistrates’ Court dismissed the charges on Friday.
He said the evidence was too “tenuous” to convict the activists. The protest involved draping the house in long black sheets while other protesters held a banner that read, “Rishi Sunak — Oil Profits or Our Future?” Sunak and his family were away on vacation in California during the incident. Michael Grant, one of the defendants, spoke outside the court after the ruling.
“Justice and common sense prevailed in court today, but that hasn’t been the case for many activists recently,” he said.
judge dismisses Greenpeace protest charges
Grant highlighted concerns over the criminalization of peaceful protests.
Judge Lower’s decision came after defense lawyer Owen Greenhall argued that prosecutors could not definitively prove the protesters caused damage to the roof tiles. A roofer working for Sunak testified about the damage, estimating it at about 3,000 pounds ($4,000). However, Greenhall pointed out potential preexisting issues with the roof, which undermined the reliability of the roofer’s testimony.
The protest was part of a larger outcry against Sunak’s announcement that Britain would grant new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea. This decision reversed the government’s pledge to eliminate net carbon emissions by 2050. Climate activists criticize such moves for contributing to global warming, which is largely attributed to the burning of fossil fuels.
The judge is expected to issue a full ruling on November 11.
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