The Courts of Injustice
The Royal Courts of Justice are designed to be impartial finders of facts where the lowest knave has an equal opportunity to prove his or her innocence as the king has to prove their guilt. They provide a Judge to ensure fair play and make decisions on what evidence can be admitted. The state gets to argue their points via the prosecution who are trained and educated in the law, the defence can choose their own council who are equally learned, or if they can not afford the fees have someone of that level put in place to argue their case, or of they wish to have a fool for a client, represent themselves after having the risks explained to them. There is a jury of common people with no legal experience who have the job of figuring out who acted correctly and who did not after hearing all the evidence. While all of this is fit and proper, there is a glaring hole that is being exploited.
The system was designed to be fair when you defence was you did not do the thing of which you are accused.
What if that is not your defence ? What if you admit you have committed an illegal act but your defence is going to be an appeal to the jury that you should be allowed to do that thing because the victims of your crime are not worthy of the legal protections others are afforded because you do not like those people ? This is exactly the defence being argued by members of a group called Palestine Action are relying on in Snaresbrook crown court in north-east London. The legal defence told the jury “They caused damage to property, damage that caused thousands of pounds. They went into buildings as trespassers with the intent of causing damage … Why did they want to do that? They wanted to put Elbit out of business. They say what we did was with a lawful justification and that is the stark issue for you, members of the jury [to decide upon].” There defence is therefore if you make parts for weapons for Israel we have the absolute right to put you out of business.
While admitting they did the deeds, they are also pleading Not Guilty to the charges those deeds caused.
On the 5th January 2022 Sage Willoughby, Rhian Graham, Milo Ponsford and Jake Skuse were cleared of charges relating to pulling down a statue of Edward Colston in Bristol. They did not deny they did it but appealed to the jury that their actions were justified as the statue was of someone who had engaged in legal but immoral dealings. The jury found in their favour and they walked free. One might say that there was no harm to any living Edward Colston as the man died hundreds of years ago. Activists from Extinction Rebellion have, with differing results attempted to have there criminal damage excused by what can only be described as jury nullification.
So where exactly does this leave actual justice ?
Let me be clear, no justice can come from this. Where a person is relived from the consequences of their actions because the person they perpetrated those actions on is less than others, justice dies. While one group of people may revel in the victory of the moment, they must understand this. Popularity is a passing faze, and while you might find success this way today, it is far from guaranteed tomorrow. Those that acted on The Night Of Broken Christal faced no consequences, until they did. Anyone supporting justified harassment because the mob are behind them, must know some day soon the mob will change, and you will be the one looking for actual justice when your business, or worse still, your life is thought of as less than.
Sources :
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/nov/20/activists-will-claim-damage-uk-lawfully-justified