Two environmental activists told the Vatican’s criminal court on Wednesday they never intended to damage an ancient statue in the Vatican Museums when they glued their hands to its marble base, in one of a series of flash protests across Europe to draw attention to climate change.
The activists, Guido Viero and Ester Goffi, are on trial in the Vatican City State, accused of aggravated damage and face up to three years in prison and some 3,000 euros ($3,227) in fines, according to the Last Generation environmental group. A third defendant who filmed the protest, Laura Zorzini, is accused of failing to follow police orders but was not in the courtroom Wednesday.
