Man Denies Criminal Damage After Churchill Statue Vandalised in Parliament Square
A man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal damage after a prominent statue of former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill was defaced with pro-Palestine graffiti in Westminster. The bronze sculpture, located in Parliament Square, was sprayed with red paint slogans including "Zionist war criminal", "Stop the Genocide", and "Free Palestine".
Incident Details and Court Proceedings
The vandalism occurred on Friday, with police arresting Caspar San Giorgio, 38, of no fixed address, just after 4am. He was charged with criminal damage in the early hours of Saturday. During his appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, San Giorgio wore a grey T-shirt and joggers. When asked to confirm his name, he stated it is Olax Outis, but his solicitor, Katie McFadden, clarified that his passport lists him as Caspar San Giorgio.
The defendant entered a plea of not guilty to the single charge of criminal damage. The court heard that he is accused of damaging the statue to the value of £11,970. Judge Caroline Jackson remanded him in custody and scheduled the next hearing for 30 March at Southwark Crown Court.
Additional Graffiti and Historical Context
Further slogans such as "Never again is Now" and "Globalise the Intifada" were also scrawled across the monument. The 12ft-tall statue, unveiled in 1973 by Lady Clementine Churchill and created by Ivor Roberts-Jones, stands on the north-east corner of Parliament Square. It is one of 12 statues in or around the square, which mostly depict well-known statesmen like Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions and protests related to international conflicts, with public monuments becoming focal points for political expression. The defacement has sparked discussions about security and the preservation of historical landmarks in central London.
