Edward Colston ‘irrelevant’ in Colston 4 trial, says prosecution

Just over 18 months after the statue of Edward Colston was removed from its plinth, the trial of four people charged over its toppling has got underway at Bristol Crown Court.

Rhian Graham, 30, of Colston Road in Easton; Milo Ponsford, 26, of Otter Close in Bishopstoke, Hampshire; Jake Skuse, 33, of Farley Close in Little Stoke, South Gloucestershire; and Sage Willoughby, 22, of Gloucester Road, appeared in court on Monday.

Dubbed the ‘Colston 4’, they are accused of criminal damage to the statue of the slave trader, which was pulled from its plinth and rolled into the docks during a Black Lives Matter march in Bristol city centre on June 7, 2020. Each of the four has denied the charges.

There was a full public gallery for the start of the trial, as well as a crowd of people gathered outside the court with banners in support of the Colston 4.

Setting out their case for the court, the prosecution told jurors to focus on the defendants rather than Colston himself, stating he is “irrelevant”.

Jake Skuse (second from left with Spiderman face covering), Rhian Graham (fourth from left), Milo Ponsford (second from right) and Sage Willoughby (far right) appeared at Bristol Crown Court – photo: Betty Woolerton

Opening proceedings, William Hughes QC said: “The prosecution accepts and makes clear that Edward Colston himself was, and remains, a divisive figure for Bristol and beyond.”

He continued, saying that Colston was a “slaver” but that, for the prosecution, it is not about defence of him or vilification of his behaviour because he is “irrelevant”. On the contrary, said Hughes, the defence will say he is relevant.

The charges allege the four accused “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”.

Graham, Ponsford and Willoughby were charged over the toppling of the statue from its plinth. Skuse stands accused over the rolling of the statue into the Floating Harbour.

Judge Peter Blair is presiding over the trial and said he expects it to conclude by just this side of Christmas.

Setting out a timeline of proceedings on June 7 2020, Hughes said a peaceful march of an estimated 10,000 people left College Green at 2pm, before proceeding through the city centre.

The prosecution stated that just before 2.30pm, after the majority had passed it, “a small number of individuals” congregated around the statue of Edward Colston.

Hughes alleges that Willoughby, Graham and Ponsford all approached the base of the statue, where Willoughby joined “others unknown” climbing onto the bronze figure. They passed ropes between each other, two of which were tied to the neck of the statue. Then “around 20 or so people began pulling on ropes”.

After the statue was toppled, it was “daubed with paint, spat on and struck with implements” and there afterwards, it was rolled some 520 metres and thrown into the water next to Pero’s Bridge, the court heard.

People gathered outside in solidarity with the Colston 4 – photo by Rob Browne

CCTV footage of the statue being toppled and then rolled into the harbour was shown to the court, with the moment it was shown being felled met with cheers from the public gallery.

Later, when the footage was shown of it being rolled into the harbour, those in the public gallery waved in silent celebration following a warning from the judge to keep quiet or face being excluded from court.

The prosecution alleges Skuse was one of the people involved in rolling the statue into the docks after it was toppled.

Hughes said the estimated cost of damage to the statue is £3,750, while the repair bill for railings by Pero’s Bridge is £350. The prosecutor said the statue’s custodians, Bristol City Council, have not undertaken any repairs.

The court heard damage included “scuff marks on the pavement, damage to the plinth, scuff marks on the paving slabs approaching the harbour and a railing was partially detached”.

Hughes concluded, saying: “This is a trial of whether the four were guilty of criminal damage to the statue of Edward Colston. What Edward Colston may or may not have done, good or bad, is not on trial here – these four defendants are.”

The trial continues and each of the defendants has been granted unconditional bail.

Main photo: Rob Browne

Read more: Carnival atmosphere outside court as Colston 4 trial begins

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