Rosalind Burgin and Mira Hammad secure acquittal for Just Stop Oil campaigners prosecuted for causing public nuisance of Open Golf Championship
18 March 2025
The Just Stop Oil campaigners were removed from the Open Golf Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club (pictured) during a protest in July 2023. Credit: Phillip Brookes / Shutterstock.
Rosalind Burgin and Mira Hammad, of Garden Court North’s Protest Rights Team secured acquittal earlier today (18 March) for Just Stop Oil campaigners accused of causing a public nuisance at the Open Golf Championship.
Three campaigners from Just Stop Oil were accused of deliberately disrupting the three-day tournament at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake on 21 July, 2023, by throwing orange powder, setting off a smoke flare, and sitting on the golf course. Their actions were in protest of the UK government issuing new oil and gas licenses.
During the sixth day of trial, Judge Gary Woodhall directed the jury at Liverpool Crown Court to deliver not guilty verdicts, on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence the campaigners had intentionally or recklessly caused a public nuisance contrary to Section 78 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
Judge Woodhall agreed with defence submissions that a de minimis threshold should be applied to cases of obstruction under Section 78.
He also agreed that there was insufficient evidence from which the jury could properly conclude that any obstruction had been more than de minimis, given the delay to the golf match was estimated to have lasted under five minutes.
Rosalind represented Lucy Timlin and Mira represented George Birch, both instructed by Hodge Jones and Allen solicitors.
Rosalind and Mira co-defended with Robbie Stern from Matrix Chambers.
Additional media
BBC: Three cleared over Just Stop Oil golf protest
Just Stop Oil: Still on course for collapse, as Judge rules Just Stop Oil Golf disruption was not Public Nuisance
For further information, please contact Alex Blair, Communications Manager at Garden Court North Chambers: ablair@gcnchambers.co.uk
