Jury discharged in Palestine Action Elbit raid trial

Jury Discharged in Trial of Eight Palestine Action Activists Accused of Aiding Elbit Systems Raid A jury has been discharged in the trial of eight Palestine Action activists charged with assisting in an August 2024 raid on the UK facility of Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems. Ian Sanders, Aleksandra Herbich, Teuta Hoxha, Sean Middleborough, Julija Brigadirova, Hannah Davidson, Madeleine Norman and William Plastow each face counts of criminal damage relating to the incident at the Elbit Systems site in Filton, near Bristol. All were also charged with violent disorder, although Plastow had previously been acquitted of that offence. The defendants deny any wrongdoing and have been on trial at the Old Bailey since 22 June. After 37 hours of deliberation, Judge Patrick Field discharged the jury. The court heard that none of the activists were present at the Elbit premises during the raid, but prosecutors alleged they helped plan the operation. Alleged contributions included compiling an equipment list, conducting reconnaissance, purchasing tools and weapons later used by others, and coordinating the break‑in and its filming. The Crown Prosecution Service said it will now decide whether to seek a retrial. A further hearing is scheduled for 14 September to determine the future of the case. The eight activists are: - Sanders, 47, of Leamington Spa - Herbich, 42, of north‑west London (Brent) - Hoxha, 30, of south‑east London (Southwark) - Middleborough, 34, of Liverpool - Brigadirova, 34, of Chorlton, Manchester - Davidson, 53, of Edinburgh - Norman, 31, of Edinburgh - Plastow, 35, of Manchester