Drax protesters convicted of obstruction

Climate change protesters face community service after judge rejects justification defence Climate change protesters who ambushed and hijacked a power station coal train failed to convince a jury today that their actions were justified by the "imminent threat" of devastation from global warming. The 22 men and women, including a senior university lecturer, teachers and film-makers, were convicted - after less than two hours of deliberation - of obstructing the service carrying 42,000 tonnes of coal to Drax in North Yorkshire last June. Their hopes of repeating the "Kingsnorth Six" judgment last September , when activists who defaced a power station chimney were acquitted by a Kent jury , were dashed by a judge, who refused to admit arguments that the hijack was " necessary and proportionate to prevent the greater crime of... [read full story]                    

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