'Victory' in Palestine Action trial, say families

The families of six Palestine Action activists have hailed a jury's verdict as a "monumental victory" after they were cleared of the aggravated burglary of a UK subsidiary of an Israeli defence firm.

Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, had pleaded not guilty to all charges after the Elbit Systems building near Bristol was targeted on 6 August 2024.

Rajwani, Rogers and Devlin were also acquitted of violent disorder at Wednesday's hearing.

Student Rajwani's mother Sukaina Rajwani, said: "We're so grateful that ordinary members of the public, the jury, delivered the verdict and monumental victory for my daughter."

The jury at Woolwich Crown Court had deliberated for 36 hours and 34 minutes, but could not reach verdicts for charges of criminal damage against all six defendants.

The jury also failed to reach a verdict on the charges of violent disorder against Head, Kamio and Corner.

No verdict was reached for a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent either, which Corner was accused of after allegedly striking police sergeant Kate Evans in the back with a sledgehammer during the raid.

The activists hugged each other in the dock when the verdicts for aggravated burglary were returned, while a dozen of their supporters cheered from the public gallery above.

Outside the court, the families of the defendants had gathered with about 100 people to celebrate their acquittals.

The group could face a retrial over the charges where the jury could not reach a verdict.

Emma Kamio, the mother of nursery teacher Leona Kamio, said she was "incredibly proud" of the group.

"They inspired me and thousands of others to fight for Palestine too."

She added: "The past 18 months have been harrowing, and I now need to take her home to heal and rebuild our lives. She has lost everything – her home in London and her livelihood – but not her dignity."

Clare Rogers, whose daughter Zoe Rogers was due to start a degree in autumn 2024, also praised the activists as "people of conscience".

"They were motivated by a desire to save lives," she said.

"They tried every possible democratic route before they took this action.

"They went on marches, wrote to MPs, joined encampments."

Rajwani's mother echoed the words of other family members and thanked the jury as she was "finally" able to take her daughter home after "547 days" in custody.

Palestine Action allege Elbit Systems UK is involved in the manufacture and supply of weapons to the Israeli military - a claim the company strongly denies.

The group denied any intention to be violent, despite allegations from prosecutors in court that they had carried in sledgehammers to fight security guards.

They said they had defended themselves when security officers over-reacted.

None of the security officers are under criminal investigation.

During the trial, Corner did not deny striking Sgt Evans with a sledgehammer, but said he did it in defence of other activists, and denied causing her serious harm.

No verdict was reached on the charge of GBH that he faced.

Speaking after the verdicts, Tom Gent, chair of Avon and Somerset Police Federation said: "When an officer is assaulted while simply doing their job, the impact is felt across the policing family.

"We expect - and rely upon - the full support of the criminal justice system when our officers are harmed in the line of duty."

He said the federation's priority was Sergeant Evans's welfare, adding: "We stand squarely behind her as she continues her recovery."

The trial heard the defendants "genuinely believed" their demonstration at the factory would help the Palestinian cause in Gaza.

The break-in happened before Palestine Action was proscribed by the government on 5 July 2025.

Supporting the group is now classed as a criminal offence under terrorism legislation.

Head, Kamio, Rajwani, Rogers and Devlin were released on bail on Wednesday ahead of a potential retrial for the outstanding charges, while Corner was remanded in custody.

Their next hearing will begin on 18 February.

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