According to a court hearing, six Palestine Action activists entered an Israeli-linked arms factory intending to smash up as much property as possible before police arrived. Prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said the defendants used sledgehammers and crowbars to destroy drones manufactured by Elbit Systems and computers at its factory in Filton, near Bristol, on 6 August last year. She also stated that Samuel Corner used his sledgehammer to assault police when they arrived. Sgt Kate Evans, who was struck, suffered a fractured spine, was unable to return to work for three months, still experiences pain, and has been confined to restricted duties, according to the court hearing. The total estimated value of the property damage caused at the Elbit Systems factory has not been disclosed.
Heer KC detailed that at 3:30am on 6 August, a van carrying the defendants crashed through the fence surrounding Elbit's factory, followed by 12 members of Palestine Action wearing black jumpsuits shouting 'Free Palestine'. She explained that the 'black team' were armed with smoke grenades, flares and fireworks to overwhelm security guards so the 'red team' could break into the factory. The van was driven into the loading bay shutter until it gave way, and the defendants, wearing red jumpsuits, sprayed the walls and floor with fire extinguishers filled with red paint. Planning documents found on an encrypted website indicated the activists had planned the raid, though what specific evidence from these documents indicates the activists' intentions remains unclear. The exact roles and actions of the 12 'black team' members during the raid have not been fully detailed.
You're not going to have a job tomorrow so don't try to protect it.
A jury was shown footage of confrontations during the raid at Elbit Systems. The footage showed a confrontation involving Jordan Devlin shouting 'you're not going to have a job tomorrow so don't try to protect it'. It also showed clashes between the defendants and three security guards: Nigel Shaw, Patrick Luke, and Angelo Volante. Clips from Volante's body-worn camera appeared to show him wrestling a sledgehammer out of Zoe Rogers's hands. Footage showed a confrontation between Shaw, Kamio, Head, and Corner involving activists with sledgehammers and a flare shouting 'get out' and swearing. According to BBC News - England, Nigel Shaw described feeling 'a little bit concussed', to which Leona Kamio responded that he was 'literally bleeding'. According to BBC News - England, Samuel Corner described the guards as having 'only got an umbrella'. Footage recorded on Luke's body-worn device appeared to show him telling defendants they were 'going to be doing criminal damage', as paraphrased from BBC News - England. Footage showed Kamio using her sledgehammer to smash up items inside the warehouse before picking up a fire extinguisher and being told police were on their way.
Three Palestine Action activists—Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, and Leona Kamio—have been found not guilty of violent disorder. The Crown Prosecution Service offers no evidence on the charge of violent disorder against Head, Corner, and Kamio, according to prosecutor Deanna Heer KC. Head, Corner, Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers, and Jordan Devlin continue to face a charge of criminal damage, with Corner also facing an additional charge of GBH with intent, according to multiple reports. Major media sources confirm that Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers, and Jordan Devlin are all charged with criminal damage, and Samuel Corner is also charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Sgt Kate Evans.
It's not worth your job.
The defendants deny all charges, according to major media sources. When police arrived, PC Aaron Buxton sprayed his Pava spray towards Corner and Devlin and ended up on the floor with Devlin on top of him, according to Heer KC. She stated that Corner struck Buxton twice before walking over to Evans, who was on all fours facing away from him, and hit her twice on the back with a sledgehammer. The current medical prognosis for Sgt Kate Evans and her ability to return to full duties is unknown. What are the specific arguments and evidence presented by the defense in response to the criminal damage and GBH charges has not been detailed in the claims.
This place is not going to exist tomorrow.
I feel a little bit concussed.
You're literally bleeding.
You've only got an umbrella.