Four accused of pulling down Edward Colston statue to go on trial in December

Four people accused of toppling a bronze statue of the slave trader Edward Colston in the centre of Bristol will stand trial in December.

Jake Skuse, 36, Rhian Graham, 29, Milo Ponsford, 25, and Sage Willoughby, 21, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday morning accused of causing criminal damage to the listed monument.

All four pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted unconditional bail until the trial which was listed to begin on December 13.

Judge Peter Blair QC, the Recorder of Bristol, said he would preside over a trial of the case.

He told the defendants: "You have pleaded not guilty and therefore I am fixing a trial date of December 13 for you which you must attend without fail on that day and the subsequent days.

"We estimate that it will go into a second week. I am suggesting probably setting aside seven to eight days so you need to make sure that your diaries are so arranged.

"There will be a hearing on November 8 to take stock of the case and make sure that everyone is working successfully towards your trial date.

"You don't have to attend but you may attend if you wish. Your counsel may attend by video link.

"You are on unconditional bail and that will continue, so you are free to leave."

The statue of Edward Colston was pulled down from its plinth and dragged through the streets during a Black Lives Matter protest on June 7 last year.

The statue was then thrown into Bristol harbour from where it was later recovered by the city council.

Ahead of the hearing, the legal firm representing three of the four defendants released a statement.

Raj Chada, head of criminal defence, and Laura O'Brien, associate, at London-based law firm Hodge Jones & Allen, said they would fight the charges "vigorously".