Palestine Action Activist Claims Self-Defense in Sledgehammer Attack on Police Officer
Samuel Corner, a 23-year-old Palestine Action activist, has testified in court that he struck a police officer with a sledgehammer during a protest at an Israeli-linked arms factory, asserting he acted to protect a co-defendant he believed was in serious danger. The incident occurred during a raid on the Elbit Systems facility in Filton, near Bristol, on August 6, 2024.
Details of the Incident and Charges
Corner is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Sgt Kate Evans, who suffered a fractured spine when he hit her in the back with the sledgehammer while she was on all fours, attempting to arrest another activist. Alongside five co-defendants—Charlotte Head, 30, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31—Corner also faces charges of criminal damage for destroying drones, computers, and other equipment at the site.
The trial at Woolwich crown court has revealed that Corner, who is autistic and used an anti-stress toy while giving evidence, described feeling anxious, scared, and panicked before the attack. He stated he had been sprayed "straight in the face" with Pava spray, similar to pepper spray, and heard his co-defendants screaming, which heightened his distress.
Corner's Testimony and Defense
When asked by his barrister, Tom Wainwright, why he swung the sledgehammer at Evans, Corner responded, "To protect. I heard someone screaming … and I thought she was being seriously hurt by security." He emphasized that his intention was not to cause harm, saying, "I would never want to seriously hurt anyone." Corner, a former University of Oxford linguistics and philosophy student, added that he was "very scared, especially for the others" and did not realize police officers were present, mistaking them for security guards.
Corner, who has been held in prison since his arrest, told the court he had no prior experience with violence, arrests, or fights. He explained the group's broader goal: "We intended to destroy weapons and things needed to make weapons which we believed were going to be used to cause death and destruction. We wanted to shut Elbit down, shut this facility down for as long as possible so they couldn’t make or export weapons from there."
Cross-Examination and Legal Proceedings
During cross-examination, prosecutor Deanna Heer KC questioned Corner about his awareness of the sledgehammer's potential for harm, to which he acknowledged but cited his panicked state and pain from the spray. Heer suggested his arrest for grievous bodily harm should not have been surprising, but Corner expressed shock, stating, "I wasn’t trying to cause serious harm to anyone. It wasn’t something I ever saw myself doing or being arrested for or being associated with."
The trial was temporarily halted as Corner felt unwell, with proceedings set to resume on Thursday. All defendants deny the charges, and the case continues to unfold at Woolwich crown court.
