Jury retires in coroner kidnap trial

Senior coroner Lincoln Brookes was the target of the alleged kidnap plot, the court heard

The jury has retired to consider its verdict following the trial of four members of an "anti-establishment cult” who have been accused of breaking into a court and intending to kidnap a coroner.

Mark Christopher, 58, Matthew Martin, 47, Shiza Harper, 45, and Sean Harper, 38, have been accused of storming into the Essex Coroner’s Court with handcuffs in April 2023.

The trial heard how the defendants are part of a "conspiracy theory" group called the Federal Postal Court.

The group has self-conferred legal powers which they believed could overrule the judicial system in England and Wales, the court heard.

Matthew Martin pictured arriving at Chelmsford Crown Court during the trial

Over the eight days of the trial, the court has heard evidence from Lincoln Brookes, the senior coroner, who said he had received letters and emails from the group before the incident which referenced arrests and corporal punishment.

He told the jury he was driving to the coroner’s court on 20 April 2023 but received a phone call from a colleague, warning him not to come to the building.

He was told: “These are the people from the letters, they’re coming to get you.”

The trial also heard from the deputy coroner, Michelle Brown, who was in courtroom two at Seax House when the incident occurred.

She told the jury how she had felt frightened and vulnerable during the incident.

Sean and Shiza Harper were part of a group that stormed Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford, the trial heard

'Unjust'

The four defendants, who chose not to have legal representation during the trial, addressed the jury directly on Friday.

Mr Martin from South Benfleet, Essex, who previously told the trial he was “following orders” from Mr Christopher, told the jury he had no motive for kidnapping Lincoln Brookes, and said he went there “to do my job, to serve a warrant… and to go home”.

Mr Harper, who said the allegations against him had been blown “way out of proportion”, told the jury “we are not violent, definitely not kidnappers, nor did we plan to kidnap”.

He added that “a simple visit or letter back to us would have prevented all of this”.

Addressing the jury before they retired, Ms Harper - also from South Benfleet - said “we have never and will never intentionally hurt anyone”, adding that the system was “unjust”.

The trial heard how the defendants disrupted proceedings at the Essex Coroner's Court at Seax House on 20 April 2023

All four defendants deny the charges of conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to commit false imprisonment.

Mr Martin, from Plaistow, east London, also denies the assault by beating of a court security guard and criminally damaging his glasses.

Mr Christopher, from Forest Gate, east London, denies a further charge of sending a letter or email with intent to cause distress or anxiety.

The trial continues.