Appeal Court Halts Rajiv Menon KC Contempt Case Over 6-Activist Palestine Action Trial
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 12
Appeal Court Halts Rajiv Menon KC Contempt Case Over 6-Activist Palestine Action Trial
4 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 12
Tuesday's ruling stopped contempt proceedings against Rajiv Menon KC, finding the case over his conduct in the Palestine Action trial was started under the wrong procedure.
The court said alleged contempt had to be handled by the trial judge at the time or referred to the Attorney General, leaving the case paused unless that referral is now made.
The dispute stemmed from Menon's closing speech in February's first trial, when the judge said he invited jurors to ignore directions barring references to "jury equity"; Menon denied any breach.
That first jury convicted no one, but a retrial last week found 4 of the 6 activists guilty of criminal damage over a break-in at Elbit Systems, a British subsidiary of an Israeli defence firm.
The ruling gives Menon a reprieve in what his lawyers called an unprecedented contempt action, while keeping alive a wider legal fight over how protest defendants can address juries.
A lawyer is cleared on a technicality while activists face prison. What does this reveal about justice in political trials?
After a top lawyer's case was halted, is the 350-year-old power of juries facing its greatest modern challenge?
When a lawyer's words are put on trial, who holds the final power: the judge or the jury?