The group of Animal Rebellion protesters was found guilty of causing £7,080 in damage to the Queen Victoria Memorial fountain by releasing red dye into it, during a protest aimed at raising awareness for their cause.
Prosecutor Ailsa McKeon described the protesters' intention to turn the fountain's water red as creating the impression of a bloodbath, but the defendants claimed they did not intend to cause any damage.
The defense argued that the red dye was meant to be biodegradable and aimed to highlight an issue, claiming it did not interfere with the monument's structure but merely affected its aesthetics, which is subjective.
The jury deliberated for nearly eight hours before reaching a verdict. The case underscores the tensions between activist expression and property damage in protest actions.
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