A jury at Birmingham Crown Court has been unable to reach any verdicts in the trial of four pro-Palestine protesters accused of causing criminal damage at a factory in Wolverhampton. The case against Iain Evans, Hisham Alkhamesi, Hana Yun-Stevens, and Frank Sherman, also known as Bea Sherman, ended with a hung jury on Thursday, June 18.
The jurors, consisting of seven women and five men, were discharged after informing the judge that there was no prospect of achieving majority verdicts, even with additional time. They had been deliberating since last week, spending 17 hours and seven minutes over four days considering the evidence.
Details of the Alleged Damage
The court heard that the defendants were accused of causing damage to the Moog Aircraft Group base located at the i54 business park in Pendeford. The alleged damage included cutting sections of the roof with power tools, exposing machinery to potential rain damage, and smashing windows and hundreds of solar panels.
Jurors were instructed to determine whether each defendant played a role in the damage and, if so, whether they intended to cause property damage.
Defendants' Backgrounds and Statements
Evans, 33, from Saltaire in Shipley, West Yorkshire, a Keele University mathematics graduate, admitted to driving a Land Rover used to knock down gates leading to the factory in August. Alkhamesi, 23, a former University of Southampton student, stated that the group intended to disrupt production and shipment at the factory. Sherman, 23, from Ditchling, East Sussex, said the group worked together to disarm the factory and put it out of action. Yun-Stevens, 24, a former care assistant and University College London fine art student from south-west London, expressed the belief that the factory's operations were criminal.
All four defendants denied a single count of causing criminal damage to property. Prosecutors alleged that the defendants, who believed the business was involved in the supply chain to Israel, had no lawful excuse for their actions.
Judge's Remarks and Next Steps
High Court judge Mr Justice Wall discharged the jurors and thanked them for their service, noting that juries do not reach verdicts in every case. He had previously instructed them to ignore protests outside the court building, emphasizing that protesters are entitled to their views but should not influence the jury's judgment.
The Crown has requested time to consider whether to seek a retrial. All four defendants were bailed until a further hearing scheduled for July 3.
