R v. Bramwell et al (“The Shell Six case”)

On April 23, 2021, a jury at Southwark Crown Court acquitted six protestors who were charged with criminal damage caused to Shell's headquarters after spray painting slogans and breaking windows during the course of Extinction Rebellion protests in April 2019. According to an Extinction Rebellion press release, a seventh protestor who had pleaded guilty due to child care arrangements was subsequently given a conditional discharge. According to media reports, the judge allowed defendants to provide evidence of their motivations but informed the jury that even if they were "morally justified" they had no defence at law. The jury nonetheless decided to acquit the activists after reportedly asking to see a copy of their oath.