Eight protesters who blocked roads outside the DSEI arms fair in 2015 have been found not guilty. The defendants argued that they were acting to prevent the illegal sale of torture equipment and weapons sold to countries that abused human rights. Owen Greenhall of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team represented Lisa Butler.
Following a five-day trial, the judge ruled that the court had heard clear and unchallenged evidence relating to unlawful arms sales at previous Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) events and that the prosecution had therefore failed to show that the defendants were not acting to prevent greater crimes.
Owen Greenhall of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team acted for one of the defendants. He was instructed by Lydia Dagostino of Kellys solicitors.
The case has been reported in local and national media, including The Guardian and The Independent.
