Jury in Colston statue trial urged to ‘be on the right side of history’

In closing speeches, defence for four accused of damaging slave trader memorial say judgement will reverberate around world

A jury has been urged to be on the right side of history" by acquitting four defendants accused of criminal damage over the toppling of the statue of the slave trader Edward Colston.

In closing speeches at Bristol crown court on Tuesday, barristers for the accused argued that the statue, which stood over the multicultural south-west city for 125 years, was so indecent and potentially abusive that it constituted a crime.