Extinction Rebellion activists accused of gluing themselves to a train were today told they will stand trial at a Crown Court.
Mum-of-two Cathy Eastburn, 51, plus Mark Ovland, 35, and 29-year-old Luke Watson appeared at Blackfriars Crown Court today.
They are all charged with one count of obstructing an engine or carriage using a railway under the Malicious Damage Act 1861 in connection with an incident involving a Docklands Light Railway (DLR) train at Canary Wharf in east London last month.
According to the charges, Eastburn and Ovland ‘climbed on to the top of the train carriage and glued their hands to the roof’.
Watson allegedly ‘glued his hand to the side of a train carriage’.
After the trio denied the charges, prosecutor Matthew Farmer said: “There will therefore be a trial.
“We would estimate a five day slot.
“The prosecution case will be quite quick.”
The trial will be held at Inner London Crown Court, it was said, as Blackfriars Court is due to close and clerks are no longer scheduling trials to be heard there.
The trio were all represented by Jacob Bindman at today’s hearing, but the barrister will only represent Watson at trial.
The court heard Ovland will be represented by Owen Greenhall and Eastburn represented by Patrick Gibbs QC.
Judge Alexandra Milne QC said: “The trial is not going to be at this court.
“The fixture for that trial will be decided in two weeks time on May 31.”
Eastburn, of Lambeth, south London, Watson, of Manuson, Essex and Ovland of Somerton, Somerset all deny one count of obstructing an engine or carriage using a railway.
They were all bailed and will next appear for a pre-trial review on May 31 at Inner London Crown Court.
The trial will take place at that court on a date to be set.
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