Three Just Stop Oil eco-activists accused of sparking nine hours of traffic chaos by climbing on to gantry above the M25 set for trial after pleading not guilty to charge of ‘causing a public nuisance’
- Cressida Gethin, 20, Alexander Wilcox, 21, and Emma Mani, 45, are all charged
- Accused of forcing motorway to close in both directions by unfurling banners
- They pleaded not guilty at Ealing Magistrates’ Court in west London on Friday
Three eco-activists accused of sparking nine hours of traffic chaos by climbing on to the gantry above the M25 are set for trial after pleading not guilty.
Cressida Gethin, 20, Alexander Wilcox, 21, and Emma Mani, 45, are charged with causing a public nuisance following a Just Stop Oil demonstration on Wednesday morning.
They are accused of forcing the motorway to close in both directions by climbing on an overhead gantry and unfurling banners.
They pleaded not guilty at Ealing Magistrates’ Court in west London on Friday.
Specialist police climbers lower a protester via a winch from the climate campaign group Just Stop Oil after they climbed an overhead motorway gantry above the M25
The protester is led away by officers after three different parts of the M25 endured chaos today with closures and huge backlogs of traffic
The defendants allegedly harnessed themselves to Junctions 14 and 15 on the south-west side in Surrey. The 117-mile M25 encircles London.
Gethin, of Dorstone, Herefordshire; Wilcox, of South Fifth Street, Milton Keynes; and Mani, of High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, were released on bail.
They will next appear at Inner London Crown Court on August 19.
‘Police were notified that protesters were planning on causing disruption on the M25 and therefore police arrived at the scene,’ said Beata Murphy prosecuting at Ealing magistrates court.
‘The decision was made to stop the traffic on the road because it was simply too dangerous and the protesters kept moving across the gantry.
A specialist climber speaks to the protester before they are winched down from the gantry above the M25 between Junctions 14 and 15
The activist scaled a gantry over the M25 at the Poyle Interchange between Junction 14 and Junction 15 near Heathrow Airport
‘There were lengthy tailbacks in both directions. At Heathrow Airport several flights were unable to take off because the staff were unable to get to work.’
The court was told that in total 26 flights were delayed because of the demonstration by Just Stop Oil at the Poyle Interchange, causing ‘incredible loss to the airlines.’
Ms Murphy added: ‘The protesters had harnesses on for safety and stuck to the gantry.
‘Once police were on top of the gantry, protesters went limp and would not comply putting themselves and officers in danger.’
A police van waits as protesters from climate campaign group ‘Just Stop Oil’ climbed overhead motorway gantries on the M25 between junction 14 and junction 15 causing both carriageways to be closed
Defence counsel for Mani, Mr John Briant, said: ‘This is a complex case involving multiple statements and witnesses.
‘I anticipate complex legal arguments and it is totally appropriate to be trialled in the crown court.
‘There are going to be Article 10 and 11 arguments in terms of Human Rights.
‘There will be legal arguments about whether the action amounted to a public nuisance. If it did amount to a public nuisance was there a reasonable excuse.’
He added: ‘There will be arguments about recklessness and arguments about the police and how they reacted and about whether it is proportionate to prosecute.’
The case was sent to the crown court because of its ‘unusual legal complexity.’
In a statement released shortly before the demonstrations, Just Stop Oil said it was ‘declaring the M25 a site of civil resistance’ this week.
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