BREAKING: ‘Going equipped to clean up’ trial dismissed after judge insisted CPS reconsider
Paul Raithy’s jury trial at the Royal Courts of Justice was dismissed today after the judge said that transporting two cans of spray water did not really constitute an offence. Nevertheless the CPS said they still wanted to prosecute so the jury was brought back in.
The judge questioned the prosecutor’s professional ability to run the case but the prosecutor said that she had to go forward under CPS instructions.
The judge then suggested the prosecutor go back to the CPS saying the judge had recommended her to put this to a more senior person which she did.
Half an hour later the jury was brought back in, the CPS withdrew all the evidence and a not guilty verdict was announced.
Nic Harries a legal advisor to Extinction Rebellion UK said: “Why are the CPS so keen to persecute peaceful protesters through the crown courts on the flimsiest of evidence when the courts are completely overloaded and the politicians, corporations, banks and insurers responsible for irreversible and catastrophic climate breakdown walk free?”
