Jury fails to reach verdict in trial over alleged Brighton rally speech supporting Hamas
They were unable to come to a unanimous decision after 15 hours of deliberations
The jury in the trial of Hanin Barghouthi, accused of expressing support for Hamas, has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict.
Barghouthi, 24, a former student, faced charges for her speech at a rally in Brighton on 8th October 2023, following the attacks in Israel.
At Kingston Crown Court, the jury informed Judge Peter Lodder KC that they were unable to come to a unanimous decision after 15 hours of deliberations.
Judge Lodder expressed his appreciation for their efforts before formally discharging them.
The Crown Prosecution Service is expected to decide next week whether the case will go to re-trial, prosecutor Michael Bisgrove stated.
Barghouthi has denied expressing support for a proscribed organization, returning to court next Friday for further proceedings.
During the trial, footage of her speech was shown where she referred to the previous day's events as a "victory" and urged celebrating "acts of resistance."
Barghouthi explained she was unaware of the full details of the October 7th attacks when making her speech, claiming not to support Hamas.
Her defense, led by Michael Mansfield KC, characterized her as a person concerned with human rights, not terrorism.
Barghouthi is noted for her academic pursuits at the University of Sussex and prior involvement in student leadership roles.