Four people accused of criminal damage in connection with the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston have been found not guilty after a trial in Bristol
The four had previously pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the single charge of criminal damage they faced.
Rhian Graham, 30, of Colston Road, Easton in Bristol; Milo Ponsford, 26, of Otter Close in Bishopstoke, Hampshire; Jake Skuse, 37, of Farley Close in Little Stoke, South Gloucestershire and Sage Willoughby, 22, of Gloucester Road in Bristol, were all cleared of the charges by a jury today (Wednesday, January 5).
READ MORE: How Bristol challenged Colston for 100 years
The four were charged that on June 7 2020 in the City of Bristol they ‘jointly with each other and others unknown without lawful excuse, damaged property, namely the statue of Edward Colston and a plinth of a value unknown belonging to Bristol City Council, intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged’.
The toppling of the statue of Edward Colston happened during a Black Lives Matter rally in Bristol city centre, as part of worldwide protests following the murder in the US of George Floyd.
A large crowd of people gathered on College Green in Bristol on June 7, 2020, before a march through the city centre passed the statue of Edward Colston. A large group of people pulled down the statue, which was later dragged to the Floating Harbour in Bristol and pushed into the water.
(Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)
The statue itself was recovered by the city council a few days later, and earlier this year was put on display in the M-Shed museum nearby.
Supporters of the Colston 4 held a ‘peaceful rally’ outside Bristol Crown Court on the first morning of the trial (Monday, December 13), and this updates blog will bring you all the latest reports and information from inside and outside the court – scroll down for updates.
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