Jordan Devlin, a Palestine Action activist acquitted of criminal damage after a protest at an Israeli arms manufacturer's UK site, has stated that he and his five co-defendants 'did the right thing' in their efforts to save Palestinian lives.
Devlin, 31, from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, was cleared alongside Zoe Rogers, 22, at Woolwich Crown Court. Four co-defendants—Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, and Fatema Rajwani, 21—were convicted of criminal damage related to the direct action protest at Elbit Systems UK near Bristol on 6 August 2024.
Describing the act of smashing equipment, including drones, as a 'fantastic feeling,' Devlin expressed no regret: 'I don’t regret signing up to this action because I’m very acutely aware I was quantifiably saving lives. We know we did the right thing by signing up to this.'
Different Verdicts and Missing Evidence
Devlin noted confusion over the differing verdicts but suggested that missing CCTV footage from the factory 'didn’t help the prosecution, even though we both said we [destroyed property].' For example, an incident where security guard Angelo Volante appeared to strike Devlin with a sledgehammer handle was not captured on CCTV but was shown in court via police body-worn camera footage.
The verdicts followed a retrial. Devlin and his co-defendants, except Corner, were bailed in February after 18 months in prison awaiting trial, when a jury cleared them all of aggravated burglary, acquitted Devlin, Rogers, and Rajwani of violent disorder, and failed to reach verdicts on criminal damage charges and an allegation that Corner inflicted grievous bodily harm on Sgt Kate Evans.
Criticism of Judge's Decisions
Devlin criticized Judge Mr Justice Johnson for remanding Head, Kamio, and Rajwani to jail before sentencing. 'I am concerned for the state of British justice, for remanding three young women who’ve already served close to the upper limit of criminal damage [for a first-time offender], when the prosecution haven’t even suggested to remand them,' he said.
He also condemned the judge's instruction to the jury to set aside 'feelings of emotions and sympathy to those who support one side [in the Middle East].' Devlin stated: 'It’s just such a messed-up event that’s going on in this world and we’re just allowing it to happen but he’s instructed that the jury put any emotions aside, any sort of feelings that they have negatively or positively about what they call ‘the war in Gaza’, the fucking genocide in Gaza. British complicity in this is not just any sort of throwaway statement or a metaphor but really is bolstering this thing.'
Reactions from Police and Devlin
After Tuesday's convictions, including Corner's for grievous bodily harm (GBH) but acquittal of the more serious charge of GBH with intent, Tom Gent, chair of Avon and Somerset Police Federation, described the incident as 'violent and deliberate thuggery' and called the fracturing of Sgt Evans's spine 'pure evil.'
Devlin, who shared a cell with Corner for six months, called Gent's comments 'disappointing' and highlighted Corner's testimony that he was panicked, pepper-sprayed, and acted to protect a co-defendant he believed was being seriously hurt. Devlin argued: 'In my opinion, the court penalises empathy for Evans so Sam can’t express it without pleading guilty to the charge he successfully had reduced. With Sam’s not guilty on section 18 [GBH with intent] and all of us having aggravated burglary and violent disorder dropped, that’s two separate juries not believing there is any intention of violence. So the notion of it being pure evil has been disproven. Pure evil is the war crimes these weapons are used for. I will see Keir Starmer’s cabinet at The Hague [international criminal court] in my lifetime.'
Elbit Systems has been approached for comment.
