Another Insulate Britain supporter defied Judge Reid’s gagging order today and told the whole truth in her closing address during the twelfth trial relating to Insulate Britain’s 2021 campaign of nonviolent civil resistance demanding that the government insulate Britain’s cold and leaky homes. [1]
Louise Lancaster, along with Julie Mecoli, Stefania Morosi and Nicholas Till, was on trial at Inner London Crown Court charged with causing a public nuisance in relation to the Insulate Britain roadblock at Upper Thames Street on 25th October 2021.[2]
As with all the Insulate Britain jury trials happening at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Silas Reid ruled that the defendants could not refer to their motivations for blocking the road in their defence. They were each barred from referring to fuel poverty, insulation or the climate crisis during their trial.
However, during her closing address, Louise Lancaster, 57, a teacher from Cambridge told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth and said:
“I feel I acted with care when our politicians do not care: letting thousands die each winter from the cold; failing to reduce carbon emissions that are destroying our world and using our legal system to criminalise and gag those who raise the alarm.”
Reid directed the jury to leave the court and in a short subsequent hearing Lancaster stated that she wanted to “register her contempt of court”. Judge Reid indicated that a separate contempt hearing would be scheduled after her trial for public nuisance concluded and that she could receive a prison sentence.
When the jury returned, Reid told them to disregard what Lancaster said about the government and the climate as it is not relevant. He said:
“Make sure, even if you have it in mind, that you don’t hold against her any intention to manipulate you in your approach to this case”.
After all four defendants had finished their closing addresses Mr Matthews acting on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service made an application for the jury to be discharged which was rejected and the jury were then given final directions from Judge Reid and sent out to deliberate on the verdict.
On Tuesday this week an Insulate Britain supporter standing outside Inner London Crown Court was arrested for holding a sign which read “Jurors, you have an absolute right to acquit a defendant according to your conscience”. Trudi Anne Warner, 68, a retired social worker from London was put in front of Judge Reid and charged with contempt for “attempting to influence the jury”. She has been told to appear at the Old Bailey on Tuesday 4th April where a High Court Judge will deal with the matter.
The first sentences for public nuisance in relation to the Insulate Britain 2021 campaign were handed down on 13th March. Stephen Pritchard was given a custodial prison sentence of 5 weeks after he indicated to the court he would continue in civil resistance, while Roman Paluch, Ruth Cook and Oliver Rock, were given 6 week sentences suspended for 18 months and ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid work in their communities.[3]
So far three Insulate Britain supporters have been sent to prison for up to eight weeks for speaking the whole truth and being found in contempt of court. All three people were given the opportunity to apologise to the court for the contempt but indicated they could not honestly do so as they did not recognise the legitimacy of the gagging order. Giovanna Lewis, 65, a town councillor from Portland, Dorset, Amy Pritchard, 37, a horticultural worker, from Walthamstow and David Nixon a care worker from Barnsley have all now been released. [4] [5]
In the eleven Insulate Britain jury trials for public nuisance charges to date, two trials have resulted in a hung jury, two trials have resulted in acquittals, five have resulted in a guilty verdict and two have been deferred.
The Crown Prosecution Service has chosen to summon a total of 56 supporters to answer at least 201 charges of Public Nuisance across at least 51 jury trials the last of which is scheduled to begin on 4th December 2023. These trials are planned to be heard across Inner London, Hove, Lewes and Reading Crown Courts and we estimate will take up around 1428 hours of court time.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] Insulate Britain is a campaign group that is calling on the UK government to put in place policy and funding for a national home insulation programme starting with all social housing by 2025, and create a meaningful plan to insulate the entire UK housing stock by 2030.
Further information about Insulate Britain and our demands here:
https://insulatebritain.com/
Technical Report on home energy efficiency here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jt5FI-kinEXoqZtPDrCvnAVQ2EFn8Aea/view
Insulate Britain ‘Blue Lights’ policy: our policy is, and has always been, to move out of the way for emergency vehicles with ‘blue lights’ on.
[2] http://insulatebritain.com/2021/10/25/breaking-we-wont-stand-by-while-the-government-kills-our-kids/