Maria Liddiard, Sarah-Jane Ewart and Michelle Harris secure unanimous acquittals for protest clients at Liverpool Crown Court.

Maria, Sarah-Jane and Michelle represented the first, second and fourth defendants in a six-handed trial that lasted over three weeks. The case involved the highly publicised protest at the Grand National at Aintree in 2023. This was the first of six trials due to take place as a result of the protest, at which 118 individuals were arrested.

These defendants were charged with the statutory offence of Public Nuisance (s78 PCSCA 2022). The defence successfully argued that the defences of Proportionality and Reasonable Excuse should be left to the jury to determine as two distinct defences. The Judge ruled that the defendants’ Article 10 and 11 rights under the European Convention of Human Rights were engaged, and therefore, it was a matter for the jury to determine whether a criminal conviction would be a proportionate interference with those rights.

Maria was instructed by Raj Chada at Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors.

Sarah-Jane was instructed by Nicola Hall at Robert Lizar Solicitors.

Michelle was instructed by Rosa Potter at Kellys Solicitors.

Co-defendants were represented by Hamish McCallum of Garden Court Chambers, and Mira Hammad and Bethany Currie of Garden Court North Chambers.

Maria, Sarah-Jane and Michelle are available to instruct in high-level protest and criminal defence work. Do not hesitate to contact us on 020 7842 7070.

Press coverage:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/65285510 
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/grand-national-police-arrests-protests-b2320490.html
https://www.merseyside.police.uk/news/merseyside/news/2024/october/further-24-people-charged-in-connection-to-protest-at-grand-national-2023/
https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/nine-people-handed-community-service-orders-over-grand-national-protests-aZrnr1d3Yt9u/