'I'm so proud of them' Families speak out after activists cleared

FAMILIES of the six Palestine Action activists cleared of the aggravated burglary of an Israel-based defence firm's Filton site have described the “harrowing” wait for the jury's verdict as they celebrated a “monumental victory”.

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Filton24 Defence Committee member Lisa Minerva Luxx addresses the media and supporters outside Woolwich Crown Court following the acquittal of six Palestine Action activists

(Ben Whithey/PA)

Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin faced trial at Woolwich Crown Court over allegations they used or threatened unlawful violence and used sledgehammers as weapons after a prison van was driven into Elbit Systems’ Bristol factory.

All six were acquitted of aggravated burglary and jurors found Ms Rajwani, Ms Rogers and Mr Devlin not guilty of violent disorder.

The jury deliberated for 36 hours and 34 minutes but could not reach verdicts for charges of criminal damage against all six defendants.

No verdict was reached in the allegation that Mr Corner, 23, inflicted grievous bodily harm on Police Sergeant Kate Evans, or on the charges of violent disorder against Ms Head, Mr Corner and Ms Kamio.

The six activists hugged each other in the dock as a dozen of their supporters cheered from the public gallery above.

Five of their number were granted bail following the jury's conclusions, with University ‘of Oxford graduate Mr Corner the only one who was again remanded in custody.

Families of the activists joined around 100 people outside court to celebrate acquittals - with cheers, applause and drumming emitting from the crowd on Wednesday afternoon.

Emma Kamio, the mother of 30-year-old nursery teacher Ms Kamio, said: “I am so incredibly proud of them for taking action to stop a genocide.

“They inspired me and thousands of others to fight for Palestine too.