Janice R. Andrews
Greta Thunberg and four other activists have been cleared of charges of violating public order due to their involvement in an anti-fossil fuel demonstration outside the InterContinental hotel in Mayfair, London. This is a significant development in the case law.
Judge Laws at Westminster Magistrates Court dismissed the allegations against Thunberg, Christofer Kebbon, Joshua James Unwin, Jeff Rice, and Peter Barker, alleging they had disregarded a requirement under section 14 of the Public Order Act. The prosecution was found to have not provided enough evidence to establish its case, according to the judge.
Greta Thunberg and four other activists have been cleared of charges of violating public order due to their involvement in an anti-fossil fuel demonstration outside the InterContinental hotel in Mayfair, London. This is a significant development in the case law.
Judge Laws at Westminster Magistrates Court dismissed the allegations against Thunberg, Christofer Kebbon, Joshua James Unwin, Jeff Rice, and Peter Barker, alleging they had disregarded a requirement under section 14 of the Public Order Act. The prosecution was found to have not provided enough evidence to establish its case, according to the judge.
Representing Thunberg and others, Raj Chada contended that the arresting police had not appropriately informed the defendants of the specifics of the section 14 order. Chada asserted that the prosecution had failed thus far and that the terms of the charge did not correspond with what was conveyed to the defendants.
PC David Lawrence, the policeman who detained Thunberg, said during the trial that he was unaware of the exact address where demonstrators were supposed to congregate. Although he admitted Thunberg’s media presence, he insisted he did not take it into account when implementing the section 14 order.
Judge Laws granted the government’s request to pay for Thunberg’s legal fees and travel expenses in response to his acquittal.
As a result, Thunberg and her co-accused have won their court battle, which emphasises the significance of unambiguous communication and solid proof in cases involving public demonstrations.
