No case to answer in protest trial

On 25 January, District Judge Zani accepted a submission of no case to answer at the close of the prosecution case in a trial of 5 protesters, who faced charges of tampering with a motor vehicle contrary to section 25 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

The court accepted a legal argument that the defendants had not tampered with a motor vehicle, within the meaning of section 25, as the conduct relied upon by the prosecution for the purposes of the offence concerned the detachable trailer of the tanker, as opposed to the cab itself.

Charles McCombe represented two of the five defendants (Erika Curren and Shaun Davies). The remaining defendants represented themselves.

You can read more about the case via the BBC here.

27th January 2023