A jury at the Old Bailey has been discharged after 37 hours of deliberation in the trial of eight Palestine Action activists accused of organizing a raid on an Elbit Systems UK factory in Filton. The activists, who denied any wrongdoing, faced charges including violent disorder, with one member previously found not guilty of that charge.
The Crown Prosecution Service is now considering whether to pursue a retrial, with a hearing scheduled for September 14 to determine the next steps in the case.
With the jury discharged, the focus shifts to the Crown Prosecution Service's decision on a retrial. Observers should watch for the implications of this case on future activism and legal precedents regarding protest actions, especially in relation to defense contractors.