Just Stop Oil protesters convicted after being denied right to state climate facts

Lawyers call for clarity over law as six are found guilty while being stopped from using defence used by fellow activists

Six environmental protesters were convicted after they were denied the ability to put a reasonable excuse" defence or climate facts before the jury, despite these being afforded to other activists acquitted for taking part in the same demonstration.

After an eight-day trial at Southwark crown court in London, the six Just Stop Oil (JSO) activists were found guilty of public nuisance, which carries a maximum 10-year sentence, for climbing gantries on the M25 in 2022 to demand an end to new fossil fuel projects. They will be sentenced next month.