Kill the Bill protester pleads not guilty to riot and arson

Events that unfolded outside Bridewell Police Station on March 21 were replayed as the second Kill the Bill trial got underway in Bristol Crown Court.

Jasmine York, of Paintworks in Arnos Vale, has denied the charges of riot and arson, being reckless as to whether life is endangered.

Protesters gathered outside court on Small Street on Monday morning to voice their support for the 26-year-old and the public gallery was packed as proceedings got underway.

The prosecution alleges that York pushed a commercial bin into a burning police van and was “a leader and instigator” of events that later unfolded outside Bridewell Police Station when officers clashed with protesters and police vehicles were set alight.

People turned out onto the streets of Bristol on March 21 last year to protest the proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which would give police increased powers to curtail protests, among other things. It was one of many demonstrations of its kind across the country.

People turned out to support Jasmine York on the first day of her trial at Bristol Crown Court – photo: Betty Woolerton

Opening proceedings on Monday, prosecutor Sarah Regan told the court that the protest started out peacefully on College Green from around 2pm, stating: “It wasn’t until much later in the afternoon, when a faction turned their attention from the proclaimed aim of the protest and instead focussed on the police that that peaceful atmosphere changed.”

The court heard that the defendant daubed graffiti that read ‘sluts against cops’ on a police vehicle and was “encouraging” the crowd. The charge of riot relates to this, as well as banging on a wheelie bin, chanting “fuck the police”, pushing against police lines and pushing officers’ shields.

It is alleged York pushed a wheelie bin into the rear of a burning police vehicle to “provide fuel for the fire” and, prior to that, danced in front of a vehicle after it was set alight.

Video footage from the day of the Kill the Bill protest of March 21 was played in the courtroom, showing scenes of a peaceful demonstration on College Green and a peaceful sit-in on Union Street near Castle Park, as well as outside Bridewell Police Station, where things later escalated.

Footage from outside Bridewell showed people gathered and chants of “Whose, streets? Our streets” and “Kill the Bill”.

York can be seen in some of the footage wearing a grey hat and orange skirt and filming on her phone throughout.

At one point, the video in the courtroom showed the defendant talking into the camera while someone else was filming. “I’m just very tired, very passionate about the right to protest,” York said in the footage, adding that she doesn’t believe in causing harm.

York says in the video that she has been “attacked” by police for protecting a woman who was hit across the face. She says: “I want to respect the police; I want to respect the justice system but when I see evidence of people being beaten I am going to take a stand and that’s why I’m here.”

The sound of dogs barking can be heard in the footage and in a later video, York shows an injury, saying she was bitten by a police dog.

The footage continues, with the sound of a police helicopter overhead and shouts and chanting on the ground. There are scenes from inside Bridewell Police Station, taken from bodyworn cameras, as the window is smashed from outside and the video showed people surrounding a police van, rocking it back and forth.

The court also heard cries of “no, no, no, stop. Stop hitting us” directed at police.

Witness PC Shaun Oliver gave evidence on the stand, telling the court that the day went from a peaceful protest and escalated to a situation that he likened to “being in a warzone”.

An evidence gatherer for the force, PC Oliver said he had attended protests before but “had never been in a situation like this”.

“I personally was scared for my own safety and I didn’t know when it was going to end,” he told the court.

PC Oliver told the court how he and his colleague – who was filming events unfold – left the scene briefly and when they returned, the mood of the crowd had become “more vocal and aggressive”.

In response to questioning from Russell Fraser for the defence, PC Oliver said it was fair to say that if there was a change in mood, he would not have known what had happened to cause this as he had left the area.

The second witness PC Lucy Williams was called to the stand to start giving evidence before the trial was adjourned for the day

The case continues.

Main photo: Bristol24/7

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: