‘Political Beliefs’ Irrelevant in Criminal Damage Cases, Court of Appeal Rules

The Court of Appeal in London has ruled climate change activists and other protesters cannot use their “political or philosophical beliefs” as a defence if charged with criminal damage. Three judges ruled a climate change activist’s defence—which led to their acquittal—that a property owner would have consented to damage if they had been aware of the full impact of climate change, was “too remote” to be classed as a “lawful excuse.” The individual, who can only be identified as XX for legal reasons, successfully used the defence, but Attorney General Victoria Prentis asked the Court of Appeal to review the way the law had been used during the trial....