Welcome to Westminster Magistrates Court in Central London where we are assembled for what might be the final day of Rex v @Glinner (Graham Linehan).
I am going to attempt to live tweet proceedings but the connection is not great. Graham Linehan (GL) is attending from the US via videolink. GL is accused of harassment and criminal damage against a trans activist called Sophia Brooks (SB).
The trial was only due to last two days (4 and 5 September), but overran - hence this extra day.
We are in court - there are around 10 people on the press bench and a similar number in the public gallery.
We are in court - there are around 10 people on the press bench and a similar number in the public gallery.
I have been told my application for certain documents from the trial bundle is being put back to the end of the day and no decision will be made about that today.
District Judge Briony Clarke is sitting. She asks GL his name and DOB
GL gives his name Graham George Linehan and DOB 22 May 1968
GL gives his name Graham George Linehan and DOB 22 May 1968
Judge (J) is reading out the agreed statement re pronoun use. Basically GL and his team will use sex-based pronouns and call SB Ms Brooks he/him or the complainant.
There will be 3 defence witnesses and submissions from both parties.
There will be 3 defence witnesses and submissions from both parties.
There is no jury - the judge has just indicated she will provide a written judgment at a later date TBA
Kate Harris is the first witness and has just been called. Whilst we are waiting for her to be sworn in...
PLEASE NOTE MY TWEETS ARE MERELY SUMMARIES OR CHARACTERISATIONS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AND BEING SAID - NOTHING REPORTING IS A DIRECT VERBATIM QUOTE UNLESS IT IS IN "DIRECT QUOTES"
KH has been sworn in
Sarah Vine KC (SV) asks what she does
KH trustee of LGB Alliance
SV which you set up with Bev Jackson?
KH yes
SV what's it's purpose
KH to ensure matters of sex and gender can be disussed in the public square without fear of accusations of transphobia
Sarah Vine KC (SV) asks what she does
KH trustee of LGB Alliance
SV which you set up with Bev Jackson?
KH yes
SV what's it's purpose
KH to ensure matters of sex and gender can be disussed in the public square without fear of accusations of transphobia
SV is LGBA a reg charity
KH yes
SV was that a straightforward journey
KH [laughs] no - it took a year, which is about average, we were very careful to follow the rules re governance etc
KH yes
SV was that a straightforward journey
KH [laughs] no - it took a year, which is about average, we were very careful to follow the rules re governance etc
SV was there subsequently an attemp by another charity to have your status revoked
KH not one charity it was an attempt by EVRY LGBT charity to have our status revoked. Eventually Stonewal,, LGBT consortium, GI and GIRES were coordinated along with Mermaids by Jolyon at...
KH not one charity it was an attempt by EVRY LGBT charity to have our status revoked. Eventually Stonewal,, LGBT consortium, GI and GIRES were coordinated along with Mermaids by Jolyon at...
... the GLW to have our status removed
SV was that successful?
KH no
SV was that successful?
KH no
SV lets go to events of 11 Oct last year - the LGBA annual conference at the QE2 confy centre in Westminster -first one?
KH no we have them annually - it's our biggest - I think it was our fourth
SV are there protests
KH yes
SV sign or relatively minor?
KH no we have them annually - it's our biggest - I think it was our fourth
SV are there protests
KH yes
SV sign or relatively minor?
KH relatively minor
SV were there any protests when you arrived last year
KH possibly - can't really remember so they must have been insig
SV was there an event during conference?
KH yes
SV what happened?
SV were there any protests when you arrived last year
KH possibly - can't really remember so they must have been insig
SV was there an event during conference?
KH yes
SV what happened?
KH many children are victims of the ideology that we fight which tells children they can be born in the wrong body - one speaker was @JamieWhistle -
SV you were about to interview her
KH yes
SV what happened?
KH I heard screaming - I came out into the auditorium and I saw
SV you were about to interview her
KH yes
SV what happened?
KH I heard screaming - I came out into the auditorium and I saw
@JamieWhistle ... people running towards the exit. I subsequently discovered that 1000s of live crickets had been released into the audience. All over the place - down't peoples heads necks bags everywhere
@JamieWhistle SV who did this
KH i thought they weren't attendees as they were kids and they looked panicked
SV were you able to identify who was responsible for the release of the crickets
KH not until 5 or 10 mins later
SV how many people were involved in the release of crickets
KH about 6
KH i thought they weren't attendees as they were kids and they looked panicked
SV were you able to identify who was responsible for the release of the crickets
KH not until 5 or 10 mins later
SV how many people were involved in the release of crickets
KH about 6
@JamieWhistle SV all young?
KH all young people - I met them in a room where they were being held by security - they were in a huddle like you might be at a netball match. I would say they were about 16
SV what was the purpose of their disruption
KH I asked why they did this and asked why...
KH all young people - I met them in a room where they were being held by security - they were in a huddle like you might be at a netball match. I would say they were about 16
SV what was the purpose of their disruption
KH I asked why they did this and asked why...
@JamieWhistle ... they just didn't come and speak to me - I said they looked just like I did when I was younger. they said they'd tried to talk to me and that Jamie Reed was a threat to trans kids and they thought JR shouldn't speak
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