Russell Fraser, of the Garden Court Chambers Protest Team, represented JY instructed by Freya Colvin of Hodge Jones and Allen.
A jury in Bristol acquitted JY of riot and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered. In March 2021 a protest against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in Bristol converged on the Bridewell police station in the centre of the city. During the hours which followed a number of police vehicles and the police station itself were damaged.
The prosecution said that JY was a ‘leader and instigator’ of what unfolded. But after a six-day trial, the jury acquitted her of the most serious charges. She will be sentenced at a later date for an offence of arson. JY is the first to go to trial and be acquitted of riot in these cases.
