From the London Evening Standard and the Guardian
A former Labour councillor is set to stand trial next year over an allegation he encouraged violent disorder in a speech to an anti-fascist protest during the recent riots.
Ricky Jones, 57, was filmed telling a crowd on August 7: “They are disgusting fascists and we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.”
He has been a councillor in Dartford, Kent since 2019, and was suspended by the Labour Party in the wake of the video circulating online.
The protest he addressed in Walthamstow was called in response to days of rioting and violent disorder by far-right groups. Not far right, just to far wrong.
Jones, who has been held in custody since his arrest, appeared on a videolink from HMP Wormwood Scrubs to Snaresbrook crown court on Friday.
He pleaded not guilty to encouraging or assisting in the commission of an offence, and a five-day trial was set for January 20 next year.
Jones is accused of encouraging violent disorder with his speech on August 7, as well as “believing it would be committed” as a result of his words.
The defence barrister Hossein Zahir KC said Jones accepted the words had been spoken but denied knowing the offence of violent disorder would be committed.
The district judge Oscar Del Fabbro said the case would be referred up to the presiding judge as it constituted a class 1C offence under the Crime and Disorder Act. He ordered the defendant to produce a defence statement by 25 October, and set a provisional trial date of 20 January next year at the same court.
Labour has suspended Jones, who has been a councillor in Dartford, Kent, since 2019.
Ben Holt, for the prosecution, told the court that at least two police officers would be called as witnesses and the Crown would seek to set out the context of the alleged offence during the trial.
“Mostly peaceful” in Walthamstow last night. 🥴 pic.twitter.com/BPKQdjPaw7
— CHARLIE SANSOM (@CharlieSansom) August 8, 2024
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