Just Stop Oil activists plan to challenge whether England’s second Ashes test against Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground was legal, as they face trial over an alleged pitch invasion at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
Judit Murray, 69, Daniel Knorr, 21, and Jacob Bourne, 26, are all charged with obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in a lawful activity over an incident at the Ashes test on June 28.
Knorr, a biochemistry student from Oxford, was famously pictured being tackled by England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow during the stunt, when it is said the match was briefly halted and orange powder was thrown on to the pitch.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge at Westminster magistrates court on Monday, as they were set free on bail until a trial on September 28.
When District Judge Louisa Cieciora asked about the grounds of the defence, their lawyer Hussain Hassan said they want proof that the match was a “lawful activity”, evidence that any disruption was caused, and have suggested Lord’s is not private property.
He said the allegation of trespass is challenged “on the basis that no evidence has been served which proves the status of the property as private property”.
Spelling out the defence case further, he said: “It is suggested that the cricket match was stopped for a matter of minutes.
“It’s for the Crown to prove that the activity of the cricket match was disrupted by the activity.”
When asked by the judge if this was truly disputed, Mr Hassan replied: “There are circumstances in which one can enter the field of play without the match being disrupted, as far as I’m aware.
“The match took place and came to a conclusion as was intended originally, notwithstanding any allegations of disruption that is said to have taken place.”
The third defence issue put forward was a challenge to prosecutors to prove that the match was lawful.
“Could we please be more sensible, and frankly realistic, on the issues”, said the judge. “Are you seriously challenging whether a cricket match was lawfully taking place?”
Mr Hassan replied: “I have had no evidence put before me that would cause me to accept that at this stage.”
The judge ordered prosecutors to put forward further evidence and told the defendants to set down their defence case in writing, warning: “If I see any further ‘Crown to prove’, I think I would be taking issue with that situation.”
Murray, of Plough Road, West Ewell, Surrey, Knorr, of Green Street, Oxford, and Bourne, of Moorland Road, Hyde Park, Leeds were banned from sporting events ahead of their trial at City of London magistrates court on September 28.
In a separate case, Austen Espeut, 75, from Long Close in Chippenham in Wiltshire and Rachel Mann, 64, appeared in the dock to face criminal damage allegations over a separate Just Stop Oil incident, when orange paint was sprayed on to the Bank of England on Halloween last year.
Espeut denied causing £5543.80 of damage and was sent to stand trial in the crown court.
Mann admitted causing damage worth £6890, and was sentenced to a 12-month community order banning her from London. She was also ordered to £1000 compensation, and a £114 court fee.
