Judge Johnson has refused to recuse himself from the sentencing of the Filton 4!
“Any fair-minded observer would not consider there to be a possibility of bias. I therefore refuse to recuse myself” he said.
More than 5,100 fair minded observers (legal experts and professionals) disagreed, signing a letter of complaint delivered to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office this weekend, for his bias and discriminatory conduct throughout the Filton case.
Rajiv Menon KC, chief defence barrister on behalf of Lottie is a leading human rights barrister who worked for:
Stephen Lawrence Inquiry
Hillsborough victims
Grenfell Tower Inquiry
Johnson accused Menon of contempt of court after his closing speech in January for Lottie.
Rajiv referenced the plaque in honour of the case against Williams Penn and Mead at the Old Bailey setting out the right of juries to give their verdict according to their convictions.
He pointed out that the prosecution had not challenged evidence put forward by the defendants about Elbit’s business interests and the Middle East ‘conflict’.
Rajiv had to appeal Johnson’s accusation of contempt in the middle of Filton 6 retrial.
The Court of Appeal blocked the contempt case from progressing, saying that it was procedurally flawed.
With greater restrictions at retrial, five of the six defendants were compelled to fire their representation and make their own closing speeches to the jury.
Johnson blocked evidence of Elbit’s supply of weapons to Israel from being presented to the jury, as well as evidence to justify defendants’ actions to disrupt Israel’s genocide.
This Friday, Mr Justice Johnson will consider sentencing Ellie, Lottie, Fatema-Zainab and Sam as terrorists on a charge of criminal damage.
The Filton action started in Bristol August 2024 and despite every flex of institutional power against them they continue to defy our government’s complicity in Israel’s genocide!
COME SUPPORT THE FILTON 4 AT WOOLWICH CROWN COURT
FRIDAY 12TH JUNE
10am-5pm
