A man has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of criminal damage related to graffiti on a statue of Sir Winston Churchill.
The Incident and Charges
The bronze statue, located in Parliament Square across from the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, was vandalized with messages such as „Stop the Genocide“ and „Free Palestine.“ Additional phrases, including „Never again is Now“ and „Globalise the Intifada,“ were also sprayed in red paint.
The Metropolitan Police reported that Caspar San Giorgio, who has no fixed address, was apprehended shortly after 4:00 GMT on Friday. He was charged with criminal damage in the early hours of Saturday morning. The 38-year-old appeared before Westminster Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
Details from the Court Appearance
During the court proceedings, when asked to confirm his identity, he stated his name as Olax Outis. However, his defense attorney, Katie McFadden, clarified that his passport identifies him as Caspar San Giorgio. The court was informed that he is accused of causing damage to the statue valued at £11,970.
Judge Caroline Jackson remanded him into custody, indicating that he is scheduled to appear next at Southwark Crown Court on 30 March.
Bildquelle: Santiago Pagnotta auf Pexels
