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‘Colston 4’ plead not guilty to criminal damage
The four people charged following the toppling of Colston’s statue have all opted to have their case heard in front of a jury at Bristol Crown Court.
Rhian Graham, 29, Milo Ponsford, 25, Jake Williams, 36 and Sage Willoughby, 21, each pleaded not guilty to the charge of damage to property at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning.
Standing in court, each rejected the option to have their case heard in magistrates’, opting instead to go to Crown Court, where their case will be heard by a judge and jury.
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Graham, of Colston Road in Easton; Ponsford, who lives in Hampshire; Skuse, of Farley Close, Little Stoke; and Willoughby, of Gloucester Road, are all due to appear at Bristol Crown Court on February 8.
Chair of the bench Lyn Matthews adjourned the case until that date in a fortnight’s time. Each of the defendants has been granted unconditional bail.
Despite warnings that any protests would be breaking the law, a number of protesters did attend court – with police detaining a number of people.
An online rally held on Monday in solidarity with the four people charged took place on Zoom and was attended by more than 150 people.
Social-justice law firm Hodge Jones & Allen are representing three of the defendants.
In a statement on their behalf, they said: “We will fight these criminal charges vigorously on behalf of our clients.
“We are committed to defending them and their right to a fair trial in this important case. We ask that their privacy is respected.
“The defendants will be indicating not guilty pleas and electing a crown court trial.”
Main photo and video: Martin Booth
Read more: Virtual support rally held for Colston 4
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