Edward Colston statue case sent to Court of Appeal

The Edward Colston statue was thrown into Bristol's harbour after being pulled down in June 2020

The acquittal of four people on trial for toppling Bristol's Edward Colston statue has prompted the attorney general to contact the Court of Appeal.

Suella Braverman is seeking clarification of the law around what can be used as a defence to criminal charges arising from protests.

She said the Colston case has led to "uncertainty" and asked for clarification on human rights defences.

The referral will not affect the acquittals in the case.

Milo Ponsford, 26, Rhian Graham, 30, Jake Skuse, 33, and Sage Willoughby, 22, were charged with criminal damage after the memorial to the slave trader was toppled on 7 June 2020.

(Left to right) Sage Willoughby, Jake Skuse, Milo Ponsford and Rhian Graham were cleared of criminal damage

They were cleared after a trial but the verdict prompted a debate about the criminal justice system after the defendants opted to stand trial in front of a jury and did not deny involvement in the incident.

The defendants claimed in court that the presence of a statue of a man involved in the slave trade was a hate crime and it was therefore not an offence to remove it.

The prosecution argued it was "irrelevant" who Colston was and the case was one of straightforward criminal damage.

Edward Colston was a member of the Royal African Company and bequeathed his wealth to charities when he died

Ms Braverman has contacted the Court of Appeal concerning the scope of defences that can be used for criminal charges arising from protests and the directions which should be given to juries.

She said the case has caused uncertainty between the offence of criminal damage and the right to protest peacefully.

The Court of Appeal will be asked to clarify the law around whether someone can use a defence related to their human rights when they are accused of criminal damage.

'Guardian of liberty'

"After careful consideration, I have decided to refer the Colston statue case to the Court of Appeal to clarify the law around protests," said Ms Braverman.

"Trial by jury is an important guardian of liberty and critical to that are the legal directions given to the jury.

"It is in the public interest to clarify the points of law raised in these cases for the future.

"This is a legal matter which is separate from the politics of the case involved," she added.

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