Three men admit violent disorder
Three men have pleaded guilty to violent disorder following protests in Southampton that broke out after the murder of 18 year old Henry Nowak. The case has led to multiple court hearings and ongoing legal action.
Connor Bishop, 24, Reece Robinson, 21, and Noah Etherington, 18, admitted the charge during hearings in Southampton and Portsmouth magistrates’ courts. Police arrested the trio after disorder during protests on Tuesday night.
What the court heard
Prosecutors said CCTV footage showed Connor Bishop throwing a traffic cone toward police officers during the unrest. Etherington was also seen near a police line and throwing a brick in the direction of officers.
Daniel Frost, 44, also admitted violent disorder. He was also found in possession of a dog lead with a metal clip, which was treated as an offensive weapon.
A separate defendant, 50 year old Matt Styler from Gosport, denied assaulting a police officer.
Background to the protests
The protests followed the release of police body camera footage showing Henry Nowak being placed in handcuffs after he had been stabbed by 23 year old Vickrum Digwa. Digwa has since been jailed for life, with a minimum term of 21 years.
Wider reaction
The incident has triggered public debate and political reaction. The prime minister called for calm and urged people not to use the case to encourage further unrest. He also referenced the wishes of the victim’s family.
