Three Just Stop Oil activists who ran onto the pitch during the second Ashes
Test appear to have denied disrupting the cricket match by claiming there is no evidence the game was lawful.
Daniel Knorr, 21, a biochemistry student from the University of Oxford,
was tackled by England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow when he ran onto the pitch at Lord’s cricket ground on Jun 28.
Bairstow carried Mr Knorr across the outfield to cheers from the crowd and was praised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his actions.
Mr Knorr, along with Judit Murray, 69, and Jacob Bourne, 26,
denied obstructing or disrupting a person engaged in a lawful activity when they appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court on Monday.
Hussain Hassan, representing all three, said: “We dispute trespassing on the basis that no evidence has been served that shows the property is private property and it would have to be private property in order to be trespassing.”
Reading the defence statement, District Judge Louisa Ciecióra said: “The cricket match was unlawful, is that what you’re suggesting? Are you seriously challenging whether the cricket match was lawfully taking place or not?”
Mr Hussan replied: “I have not had evidence served before me that would cause me to accept that.”
The defence lawyer also questioned whether the actions of the three represented actual disruption.
He said: “It’s been suggested that the cricket match was stopped for a matter of minutes. Again on the CCTV evidence that’s referred to, it’s for the Crown to prove that the activity of the cricket match was disrupted.”
The judge replied: “Saying it’s for the Crown to provide everything is not narrowing down the issues of the case.”
Mr Hassan went on: “There are circumstances where one could enter the field of play without the match being disrupted.
“There hasn’t been evidence adduced to this point. The match was played and carried on notwithstanding any disruption that did take place.”
The three defendants are now due to stand trial at City of London magistrates’ court on 28 Sept.
