Colston statue case referred to court of appeal over human rights defence

Attorney general asks for legal clarification in wake of acquittals of Black Lives Matter protesters

The attorney general has asked for clarification from the court of appeal over the circumstances in which defendants can cite their human rights as a defence in a case of criminal damage.

Suella Braverman made the referral in the wake of the acquittals of four people accused of pulling down the statue of the slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol during a Black Lives Matter protest.