By George Mills. Main image: Courtroom sketch by Tad Davies
On April 15th, the trial at Caernarfon Crown court began for what some groups have dubbed ‘The Solvay 3’. Defendants Owain Parry, Thomas Bell and voice.wales reporter Mark Redfern, are charged with criminal damage for allegedly causing around £20,000 worth of damage to the Solvay factory on Wrexham industrial estate, in coordination with Palestine Action.
Even though the action in question – which was against arms being sent to Israel – took place in 2021, the case has special relevance today given the more than 33,000 people in Gaza, including 13,800 children, that have been killed by Israel since October 7th.
The three men were met outside the court by a group of around 20 Pro-Palestine protestors from a coalition of local anti-war, left wing and Christian groups, who had come to support the defendants and even provided them and their families with sandwiches and refreshments in a show of solidarity.
After the swearing in of the jury, and conformation of the defendants not guilty pleas, the trial began around 2PM that afternoon. The presiding judge had already struck off some of the damages claimed by Solvay, bringing the total alleged damages down from over £30,000, stating that the defendants were allegedly only on the roof of the factory so certain claims about damaged equipment were not feasible.
The first piece of evidence shown to the jury by the prosecution was bodycam footage from a police officer that attended the scene on the 22nd of November 2021. The footage showed 3 people on the roof of the factory in red boiler suits and face coverings shouting, ‘Free Palestine’, and ‘Solvay, you have blood on your hands’, however, the identity of the protestors was unclear in the footage presented.
This evidence was coupled with a folder from the prosecution, depicting images of the factory before and after the protest, as well as some of the alleged damages caused, such as broken CCTV cameras, ventilation equipment and red paint, with which the words ‘Free Palestine’ were repeatedly graffitied on the exterior walls of the Solvay site in red paint. Approximately 60 employees had to be sent home from the shift on that day, bringing production to a standstill.
The protestors were eventually taken off the roof after a 14 hour sit in. Approximately 40 police officers from North Wales Police as well as Greater Manchester Police were present at the scene, assisted by fire and ambulance crews. The prosecution claims that after removal from the sight, items such as a tent, telescopic ladder, flares, metal chains and fire extinguishers filled with red paint were found on the roof, and similar items were also found by the police during a raid on one of the defendants’ homes. The protestors answered ‘no comment’ to police questions and were later released on bail.
The first witness called by the prosecution was the sight director, Mr. Benjmain Moore. Mr. Moore stated that he received a call on the day from one of the managers at the factory informing him of the protestors on the roof. Upon arrival at the scene, he said, ‘I could see pieces of hardware being thrown from the roof, such as roof cowls and parts of the ventilation units’. However, he stated that he did not witness the CCTV being damaged, as claimed by the police officer in her bodycam footage.
Mr. Moore informed the court that the company no longer operate under the name Solvay, and now operate as Psytech. He was then questioned by the prosecution regarding the images in the file they presented to the jury, depicting the alleged damages caused by the protestors. The estimated value of the damaged equipment was produced by the companies own engineers, and repairs completed by an external contractor. However, much of the damage was caused to ‘unessential equipment’ and thus, would not be repaired.
When questioned about what the factory produces, Mr. Moore replied, ‘Composite materials for aerospace application, mostly for passenger aircraft’. When questioned if they supply military equipment too, he stated, ‘Yes, mostly for fixed-wing aircraft such as the F-35 fighter jet’.
The F-35 is a fighter jet produced by Lockheed-Martin, which has been used frequently by the Israeli Defence Force to bomb Palestinians in Gaza, as well as target groups outside of Israel’s borders, such as Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon.
When cross-examined by the defence, Mr. Moore confirmed that the factory is part of the supply chain that goes into the creation of the Lockheed-Martin F-35, stating that, ‘The composites are sold to another company, who then supply to Lockheed-Martin’.
This is the initial justification for the occupation of the factory by the protestors in November 2021, that parts being made in the Wrexham factory were being used to commit atrocities against the civilian population in Palestine.
The trial will continue throughout the week, with the jury expected to give their verdict on the afternoon of Friday 19th of April. Throughout the week, each defendant will give their evidence to the court and be cross-examined.
Supporters of the defendants confirmed they will be back every day to show support and solidarity with the accused. They say they want to emphasise that the people of Wales do not consent to supplying Israel with the military equipment used in the genocide being committed against Palestinians in Gaza.
