After eight days of deliberations, defendants were acquitted, or not convicted, of all offences levelled against them

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/42709668

4 February 2026 12:40 GMT

During the trial, the prosecution alleged that the six defendants entered the factory with sledgehammers, intending, if needed, to injure and incapacitate security guards.

But the defendants disputed that the sledgehammers were “weapons of offence”, and insisted they were intended only to damage property.

As the verdicts were being read, the defendants held hands and embraced in the dock, as families and supporters cheered and wept.

The six defendants have been held for around 18 months on remand- exceeding standard UK custodial time limits.

  • crapwittyname@feddit.uk
    23·
    2 days ago

    It’s in the article there:

    jurors did not return a verdict on the charge faced by Corner of grievous bodily harm with intent for striking a police officer with a sledgehammer.

    Here’s another interesting bit:

    Bodycam footage presented to the jury appeared to show security guard Angelo Volante allegedly striking defendant Devlin in the neck with a sledgehammer, knocking him to the ground.

    A series of images and a body map detailing Devlin’s injuries, including a black eye, was presented to the jury.

    In another clip, Volante is seen brandishing a whip and running towards Devlin, who was unarmed. He then picked up a sledgehammer and swung it at Devlin and co-defendant Rogers.

    Let’s hope there’s some justice for the protesters, eh?

    • BigTwerp@feddit.uk
      32·
      2 days ago

      I would hope the guard is also subject to a rigorous investigation and charged if an offence has been committed.

      • crapwittyname@feddit.uk
        8·
        2 days ago

        Well if they have, then the prosecution in that case certainly haven’t been as energetic in propagandising the violence as the prosecution for the crown.

        You seem to be someone who has faith in institutions. Do you not think justice has been done? The jury saw the same video you did and didn’t believe it to be GBH with intent. So the officer who was injured has had her justice.

          • crapwittyname@feddit.uk
            3·
            1 day ago

            So it would be a different case, with a different prosecution, if the protesters were bringing charges against the security guard, no?

              • crapwittyname@feddit.uk
                2·
                1 day ago

                Protestors can’t bring charges? Can you explain what you mean by that because it’s definitely not correct as is. Protestors have the protection of the law just like everybody else.
                Only the CPS can prosecute? That’s not right either, private prosecutions are allowed in the UK, under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. You can have your case heard in the magistrates court for example.

                • ohulancutash@feddit.ukEnglish
                  2·
                  1 day ago

                  The DPP has the right to take over or order discontinuance of any private prosecution. In this case it is almost unthinkable that the CPS would allow the protestors to mount a private prosecution of anyone, much less an individual the CPS has deemed a victim of the same incident.

                  I should have said the CPS has a monopoly on prosecution. Only those private prosecutions the DPP sees as no threat to their authority are allowed to take place.

                  • crapwittyname@feddit.uk
                    1·
                    1 day ago

                    I didn’t know that. That seems completely unjust. I hope the private prosecution would be allowed after the CPS is finished with the case?

        • BigTwerp@feddit.uk
          23·
          2 days ago

          I wasn’t in court so I can’t know what evidence was put forward and I wasn’t in the jury so I can’t know what they decided. According to the article they can be re tried and the mand who attacked the woman with a hammer is still in jail awaiting trial so there is hope of justice yet.

          • crapwittyname@feddit.uk
            32·
            1 day ago

            So for you, justice will only be done when a jury finds him guilty? Because he’s already been tried by jury once

            • BigTwerp@feddit.uk
              11·
              1 day ago

              Or not guilty. The jury failed to reach a verdict which means the should be re-tried.