Pair deny charges after Darwin grave spray-painted

Two Just Stop Oil protesters who are alleged to have spray-painted Charles Darwin's grave in Westminster Abbey have pleaded not guilty to criminal damage.

Alyson Lee, 66, from Derby, and Diane Bligh, 77, from Frome, Somerset, are accused of throwing orange paint over the grave as part of a protest on 13 January, Southwark Crown Court heard.

They are charged with causing criminal damage after "1.5 is dead" was written over the resting place of the scientist in central London.

The defendants told the court their action was proportional to "the threat the world is facing".

Despite the judge's advice against it, the defendants chose to represent themselves at the plea and case management hearing.

Judge Nicholas Rimmer said: "I encourage you to consider professional advocates for assistance - it may assist you."

But Ms Bligh told the court: "I have considered it and I'm choosing to be self-representing." Ms Lee added: "That's the same for me."

Outlining their defences, they said they would not be able to receive a fair trial because the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was overlooking "crimes against humanity".

Ms Lee said: "I need time to formulate the whole thing, but I may well be using the defence of the impossibility of having a fair trial on the basis that the judicial system is failing to prosecute the real system.

"The CPS have been informed of major crimes against humanity and they are refusing to pursue those."

Vincent Scully, prosecuting, told the court the pair were wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts at the time of the offence.

He said the cost of the damage was about £10 to £15 to clean off and took "a number of hours for specialists to do so".

The trial, which is expected to last three days, has been scheduled for 5 May next year.

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