Extinction Rebellion: Scott Ludlam and protesters go before court
Former Greens Senator Scott Ludlam opted to tweet from home about fossil fuels instead of turning up to court, where his lawyer was accused of openly laughing at a registrar.
Central Sydney
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A total of 14 climate change activists charged over Extinction Rebellion protests last year, including former Greens senator Scott Ludlam, have had their cases go before court this morning.
The former politician, however, was not in court and was tweeting about the fossil fuel industry while two barristers acted on his and the group’s behalf in the Downing Centre Local Court.
Ludlam’s barrister Cameron Murphy was accused of laughing in open court at Registrar Stephen Lister during the brief mention today.
“I don’t appreciate that when I am speaking Mr Murphy you are guffawing,” Registrar Lister said.
The lengthy case will likely go to a hearing later this year, with the activists already entering pleas of not guilty to a raft of charges relating to their actions at the Extinction Rebellion protests around Town Hall last October.
The court heard that Ludlam’s group have only today received the brief of evidence outlining the police case against them, with their lawyer flagging that some could now change their plea to guilty.
In the wake of his arrest, Ludlam was given strict bail conditions over police concerns that he would “endanger the safety of victims, individuals and the community”.
His lawyer at the time, Greg James QC, claimed they were an attempt to stifle legitimate political protest” before the conditions were eventually lifted.
He was ordered not to go within 2.5km of Town Hall but can now roam free around the Sydney CBD.
In total, 30 protesters were charged over the action which shut down some of the main streets in the city, with a number of them set to be sentenced in March.
Today’s group will return to court on February 20.
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