Jury trying pro-Palestinian activists instructed to ignore protest outside court

Iain Evans, 33, Hisham Alkhamesi, 23, Bea Sherman, aged 23 and also known as Frank Sherman, and 24-year-old Hana Yun-Stevens all deny causing criminal damage to Moog Wolverhampton Ltd’s site in the Pendeford area of the city in August last year.

Evans, from Shipley; Alkhamesi, of Hinckley ; Sherman, of Ditchling, and Yun-Stevens, from south-west London, pleaded not guilty at a previous hearing to a single count of causing criminal damage to property.

After jurors were sworn in at Birmingham Crown Court to try the case on Thursday, High Court Judge Mr Justice Wall told them: “It is your job to assess the evidence and decide what happened and, where appropriate, what was in someone’s mind when they acted as they did.

“This might be a case which, as today, attracts people to gather at or outside court. They might say things or hold banners and seek to distribute leaflets about the conflict in the Middle East.

“If that happens you must ignore them – do not engage with what is going on.

“They are entitled to their views but you must not to let their views influence your judgement.”

Police have said significant damage was caused to a number of skylights and solar panels at the site in the early hours of August 26.

The jury of seven women and five men was sent home until Friday when prosecutor Rupert Jones is expected to open the Crown’s case.