31st March 2014

The trial starts today of nine more people arrested at the Balcombe anti-fracking protests on the same day as Caroline Lucas MP. (Her week-long trial, along with that of Ruth Potts, Ruth Jarman, Sheila Menon and Josef Dobraszczyk, ran out of time on Friday and was adjourned until April 17^th. More details.)

This morning Katie Brown, 34, Luke Evans, 34, and James Jones, 19, all from Liverpool, Camille Herreman, 26, and Matthew Whitney, 30, both of Nottingham, Phillip Cawkwell, 52, of Ascot, Chris Seal, 30, of London, Barry Slipper, 47, of Southampton, and Kim Turner, 57, of Brighton, will appear at Brighton Magistrates Court.

All but Mr Cawkwell are all charged with failing to comply with a police condition under the Public Order Act and with obstructing the highway on August 19^th last year. Mr Cawkwell is charged solely with obstructing the highway. All the campaigners deny the charges. The case is expected to last six days.