In a significant legal development, the Court of Appeal in London has ruled that environmental activists in England and Wales cannot use their political or philosophical beliefs as a defense in criminal damage cases. This decision comes after eco-activists argued that their right to cause damage as part of their protests was protected under the guise of fighting climate change. The ruling highlights that beliefs and motivations do not constitute a lawful excuse for damaging property, effectively closing a previously utilized legal defense by climate protesters. The judgment raises the prospect of more protesters facing convictions for direct actions aimed at highlighting the effects of climate change.
Eco protesters cannot claim a 'climate emergency' as justification for vandalism, the UK's most senior judge rules https://t.co/VGHtEBsm3z https://t.co/K8lZUChhrf
Climate protesters in UK barred from using beliefs as legal defense Court of Appeal ruling limits avenues for environmental activists charged with criminal damage https://t.co/cwkK7qtAPO
Senior judges have confirmed that protesters do not gain legal “carte blanche” to vandalise property by arguing that they believe the victims support their cause ⬇️ https://t.co/4rLH5sCbcX
🔴 Eco-activists’ claims that they have a right to cause damage as part of their protests have been rejected by Court of Appeal judges https://t.co/VyPouWOUWG
Climate activists in England and Wales lose ‘consent’ defence https://t.co/OARgT1reTp
Environmental activists accused of criminal damage cannot rely on their political or philosophical beliefs as a defense, London's Court of Appeal ruled, raising the prospect of more protesters being convicted for direct action https://t.co/LbOuL9r0lk
Climate protesters lose legal defense for criminal damage in England and Wales https://t.co/uA7WrcPEEU https://t.co/tkvm45Fsru
Climate protesters can't rely on beliefs in criminal damage cases, UK court rules https://t.co/x4SZyKGKyo https://t.co/bUCh2qrkl0
Environmental activists accused of criminal damage cannot rely on their political or philosophical beliefs as a defence, London's Court of Appeal ruled, raising the prospect of more protesters being convicted for direct action https://t.co/eJkFrhxmxx @samiotobin https://t.co/g4S1GYHdI5
Eco-protesters lose legal fight to tell juries about the effects of climate change https://t.co/hQNNP5eqOH
"Climate protesters in England and Wales lose criminal damage defence "Appeal court says defendants’ ‘beliefs and motivation’ do not constitute lawful excuse for damaging property" https://t.co/uKUC7N77cQ
Climate protesters in England and Wales lose criminal damage defence https://t.co/49qOPuxjje
Eco-activists’ claims that they have a right to cause damage as part of their protests have been rejected by Court of Appeal judges. https://t.co/5SjvqDI9Ef https://t.co/jwbs9h29AA