A leading human rights barrister who represented Palestine Action defendants in the UK is facing renewed contempt of court proceedings after a judge referred allegations against him for a second time.
Rajiv Menon KC was accused of breaching the judge’s directions in a closing speech he delivered in January at the conclusion of the first trial of six Palestine Action defendants accused of causing criminal damage to weapons at an Israeli army factory outside Bristol.
The defendants were subsequently cleared of charges of aggravated burglary. They were then retried, with four of them convicted of criminal damage in May.
The presiding judge, Justice Johnson, alleges that Menon breached his directions, in particular by reminding the jury of their right to acquit on conscience - something that he had barred the defence from alluding to.
In May, the Court of Appeal found that Johnson had unlawfully initiated proceedings against Menon by referring the case to the High Court.
