News / Colston 4
Date set for Colston 4 trial
With the world’s press watching via video link, the four people charged following the toppling of Colston’s statue made their first appearance at Bristol Crown Court.
Rhian Graham, 29, Milo Ponsford, 25, Jake Skuse, 36 and Sage Willoughby, 21, each pleaded not guilty to the charge of criminal damage on Tuesday morning – renewing pleas already made in magistrates’ court.
The defendants, collectively dubbed the ‘Colston 4’, stood behind clear screens in the courtroom to issue their pleas. They have been granted unconditional bail until the trial date of December 13.
Each of the four was charged with criminal damage to the statue of Edward Colston, which was toppled from its plinth on June 7, 2020.
Judge Peter Blair QC has set a pre-trial hearing for November 8 “to take stock of the case and make sure that everyone is working successfully towards the trial date”.
The social-justice law firm Hodge Jones & Allen, which is representing three of the four defendants, released a statement ahead of the court appearance on Tuesday, saying: “We will fight these criminal charges vigorously on behalf of our clients. We are committed to defending them and their right to a fair trial in this important case.”
The Colston 4 are due back in Bristol Crown Court on December 13 for the start of their trial.
Main photo by Ben Wray
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