Audrey Cherryl Mogan of the Garden Court Protest Team represented the protestor instructed by Lydia Dagostino of Kellys Solicitors.
2019 saw huge fires rage across the Amazon Rainforests. In solidarity with activists and the indigenous communities marching in Brazil protestors at 11 embassies across the globe, including at the Brazilian Embassy in London, gathered to protest against Jair Bolsanaro’s failure to protect the Amazon and the indigenous peoples.
The defendant, Richard Barnard, attended the protest to raise awareness about the impact of deforestation on the climate crisis. Reports now show that the Amazon rainforest once the largest carbon sink, is now emitting more carbon than it is absorbing. He also sought to attend a prayer vigil to read out the names of indigenous activists and people who have been killed whilst trying to put a stop to the deforestation.
He was charged with committing criminal damage at the Brazilian Embassy by assisting and encouraging others to commit criminal damage, namely on a joint enterprise basis. He was acquitted yesterday at Southwark Crown Court in a unanimous verdict.
