Jury sworn in to try six accused of break-in at Israel-based defence firm
Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin are accused of aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder
A jury has been sworn in to try six alleged pro-Palestine activists accused of breaking into an Israel-based defence firm’s UK site while in possession of sledgehammers.
Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin are accused of aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder in relation to an alleged attack by several people at Elbit Systems UK’s site near Patchway, Bristol, in the early hours of August 6 last year.
Corner, 23, is also charged with causing police sergeant Kate Evans grievous bodily harm on the same day.
Head, 29, Kamio, 30, Rajwani, 21, Rogers, 22, Devlin, 31, and Corner are alleged to have trespassed on the facility as part of a larger group.
A previous hearing was told the alleged attack caused more than £1 million worth of damage.
On Monday a panel of 14 jurors was selected at Woolwich Crown Court and was told the case will be opened on Tuesday by prosecutor Deanna Heer KC before the panel is reduced to 12.
A group of noisy pro-Palestine protesters demonstrated at the gates outside the south-east London court, and chanting could be heard by those in the courtroom.
Mr Justice Johnson told jurors: “You will have heard there is quite a lot of noise going on outside the court. Just ignore it.”
The six defendants deny all the charges and the trial will last eight weeks.