Climate activists on trial for blocking of M25 defy court to address jurors

Two climate activists on trial for conspiring to block the M25 have defied a court and attempted to address jurors about the perilous consequences of climate breakdown.

Roger Hallam, who spoke extensively in the witness box on Tuesday and Daniel Shaw, who began his evidence on Wednesday, ignored attempts at cross-examination and directions from the judge, and spoke about the dangers the world faces.

Each time the jury was sent out and the judge, Christopher Hehir, discontinued their evidence.

Hallam appeared in the witness box first on Wednesday morning, following his statement on Tuesday when Judge Hehir allowed him three hours to expound, at length, his reasons why he felt he had a reasonable excuse for allegedly organising the protests.

But when Hehir invited Shaw, who is representing himself in the trial, to cross-examine Hallam, Hallam began: “I haven’t actually finished. I’m under oath to tell the whole truth … this relates to a continuation of what it means for there to be an existential risk to human existence.”

At this point, Hehir sent the jury out and ended Hallam’s evidence.

Shaw was next in the witness box. Responding to Hehir’s questions about the prosecution case, he said:“ I think I was behaving reasonably in doing what I did. Conspiracy is a word that implies some kind of criminality. I don’t believe I was doing anything criminal in doing what I was doing.”

He went on: “I don’t intend to go into legal arguments – you did hear a lot of legal arguments yesterday. But what I would say is that by taking the action I did I was trying to prevent climate breakdown. It’s not just a belief; the risks are well documented by scientists.

“I believe I had reasonable excuse for doing what I did … in summary that’s my defence.”

Shaw extensively discussed the suffragettes and the US civil rights movement, comparing their actions to those of Just Stop Oil’s climate-motivated protests.

After about 20 minutes, Hehir indicated the time he had allocated for Shaw’s evidence in chief had run out, saying: “Mr Shaw, that’s enough.”

“I’m going to continue,” Shaw replied. “I’m sorry, but I do actually have more things that I need to say.”

Each of the defendants said they did not intend to cross-examine Shaw but instead wanted him to have more time to finish his evidence – requests the judge denied.

Jocelyn Ledward KC, for the crown, began her cross-examination. But when she asked a question, Shaw replied: “I would be happy to answer your questions, but do need to finish my evidence before I can do that.” He gave similar responses to each of her questions.

“I’m here to defend myself and I have evidence that I need to present,” he said.

Ledward persisted, until Shaw began to read out a quote from the geophysicist Bill McGuire.

At that point, Hehir once again sent out the jury. He brought them back several minutes later and asked Shaw to comply with the cross-examination.

But Shaw once again began reading out the quote, and Hehir again sent out the jury. No more evidence was heard on Wednesday.

Shaw and Hallam are on trial alongside Louise Lancaster, Cressida Gethin and Lucia Whittaker-de-Abreu on a charge of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance for allegedly organising Just Stop Oil supporters to climb the gantries over the M25 in November 2022.

The trial continues.