The high-profile trial of four Palestine Action activists has commenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court, centring on a dramatic protest at a UK defence factory with alleged links to Israel.
The defendants—Richard Barnard, 33, Morgan Healy, 25, Bethany Yates, 25, and 30-year-old Milo Watson—stand accused of conspiracy to cause criminal damage exceeding £5,000. The charges stem from a major demonstration at the Elbit Systems site in Tamworth, Staffordshire, in August 2022.
Prosecutor Adam Davis outlined the case for the jury, describing a coordinated effort to occupy and disrupt the facility. The court heard that the activists allegedly used locks and chains to secure themselves to structures and deployed fire extinguishers to spray red paint across the premises, symbolising bloodshed.
The Prosecution's Case: A Planned 'Siege'
Mr Davis characterised the event not as a spontaneous protest but as a carefully planned 'siege'. The prosecution alleges the group's intent was to inflict maximum financial and operational damage on Elbit Systems, a company that supplies technology to the Israeli Defence Forces.
‘The purpose of the attack, the prosecution say, was to shut the factory down and to cause as much damage as possible,’ Davis told the court. The activists reportedly targeted the site due to their belief that the products manufactured there are ‘used for military purposes by the state of Israel’.
A Defence of Direct Action
While the defendants have yet to present their full case, Palestine Action is known for its direct action approach. The group operates on the principle of ‘shutting down Britain's deadly arms trade’ with Israel, holding companies like Elbit directly responsible for actions undertaken by the Israeli military.
This trial is the latest in a series of legal confrontations involving the group, bringing the debate over protest, criminal damage, and the UK's defence exports into the courtroom. The case continues.
