Protests at Palestine Action break-in trial condemned by top prosecutor
Demonstrations outside Woolwich Crown Court have been criticized
The head of the Crown Prosecution Service has called for action to be taken to stop protests outside the retrial of activists accused of breaking into defence firm Elbit.
Demonstrations were held outside Woolwich Crown Court during the trial of Palestine Action supporters over the break-in at the Israel-based company's UK site in Bristol.
Posters were also put up on bus stops and lampposts near the building which said "The jury decide not the judge", "Jury equity is when a jury acquits someone on moral grounds", and: "Jurors can give a not guilty verdict even when they believe a defendant has broken the law".
While he would not comment on the jury's verdicts, Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said the protests threatened the administration of justice.
"It was clearly intended to influence the jury," he said. "I think that's highly regrettable.
"I think it's a threat to the administration of justice when that type of behaviour takes place, and we now know there will be a retrial and the police and the courts are forewarned.
"I hope very much that action will be taken to prevent a repetition of that."
He went on: "I think conduct of that kind, which is clearly intended to have an impact on the jury, is hugely regrettable.
"I'm not going to opine as to whether or not an offence is committed, but it's obviously a concern that if that is the motivation, which I'm sure it was, then that amounts to some form of contempt."
Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio, Fatema Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin were cleared of aggravated burglary last week, but the jury failed to reach verdicts on several other counts.
Jurors had found Ms Rajwani, Ms Rogers and Mr Devlin not guilty of violent disorder after deliberating for 36 hours and 34 minutes.
However they could not reach verdicts for charges of criminal damage against all six defendants, or on the allegation that Mr Corner, 23, inflicted grievous bodily harm on Police Sergeant Kate Evans.
Nor could they reach a verdict on the charges of violent disorder against Ms Head, Mr Corner, and Ms Kamio.
All the defendants bar Mr Corner were released on bail ahead of a potential retrial.
The CPS is expected to confirm which charges it will pursue at any retrial at a hearing on February 18.