A Palestine Action activist standing trial for her alleged role in a break-in at an Israeli defence company's UK factory has been described in court as a "remarkable woman", with her barrister drawing direct comparisons to the historic suffragette movement.
The Filton Factory Incident and Charges
Charlotte Head, aged 29, is on trial at Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London alongside five other defendants. They are accused of involvement in what prosecutors have termed a "meticulously organised" protest at the Elbit Systems factory in Filton, near Bristol. The incident occurred on 6 August 2024.
Head, together with co-defendants Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers, and Jordan Devlin, faces charges of aggravated burglary, criminal damage, and violent disorder. Samuel Corner is additionally charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a police officer, PC Kate Evans. All defendants deny the charges against them.
Defence Draws Historic Parallels
In closing submissions on Thursday, Charlotte Head's barrister, Rajiv Menon KC, detailed his client's background in activism, which includes work with refugees in Calais. He then made a striking historical analogy.
Menon told the jury that the suffragettes, now publicly celebrated for their heroism, were in their own time denounced by MPs and the press as "a threat to the social order" and "unladylike, feral, aggressive, violent".
"The reality, of course, is very different," Menon stated. "The suffragettes were remarkable women from all walks of life united in their hope, their despair, their defiance and their dedication."
He continued, "Charlotte Head is also a remarkable woman and I say that without any reservation. This is not something that lawyers defending clients in criminal trials often say … we are taught to avoid the personal. But it must be said in this case, not only because it is true but also because it is relevant."
Menon also characterised Elbit Systems, the parent company of Elbit Systems UK, as a "dreadful company" that "has played a critical role in the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians" while being "wined and dined" in the corridors of power. He argued that any violence on the day was unplanned and that it was "fanciful" to suggest the group would abandon its previous hallmark of non-violent direct action.
Prosecution Rejects Self-Defence Claim
Also on Thursday, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC completed her closing arguments, specifically addressing the charge of grievous bodily harm against Samuel Corner. She rejected Corner's defence, heard during the trial, that he struck PC Evans with a sledgehammer after being sprayed with Pava spray in order to protect screaming co-defendants.
Heer asserted that his actions were "nothing to do with self-defence or defence of anyone else". She said the level of force used against Evans, who sustained a fractured spine, was "completely unreasonable, completely disproportionate".
Earlier in the week, Heer had reminded jurors that while they may hold personal views on the Middle East conflict, "for the purposes of this trial, however, your views about those matters don't matter." This sentiment was echoed by the trial judge, Mr Justice Johnson, who urged the jury to keep "cool heads" and ensure that "bias, emotion, sympathy, prejudice, political views and matters of that sort play no part" in their decision.
Barristers for the remaining defendants are scheduled to deliver their closing submissions on Friday. Following this, the judge will sum up the case for the jury, which is expected to be sent out to begin its deliberations early next week.
