Thread by @tribunaltweets

Tribunal Tweets were at Sheffield Magistrates court this morning for the hearing Crown v Ben Lindsay; BL was charged with two counts of 'assault by beating' (dousing with tomato soup) of Kellie Jay Keen and another woman (MM) at the Sheffield Let Women Speak event on Sept 21 2024

Kellie Jay Keen (KJK) is the leader of the Party of Women (PoW) and founded and organises public Let Women Speak (LWS) events internationally, providing a platform for women to discuss the impacts of gender ideology on women and children.

Whilst KJK was setting up cameras for the event, BL allegedly ran up behind KJK and poured soup over her head, which also fell onto another woman MM, before running away. He was chased and quickly arrested.

Abbrevs:
J - Judge Waite
KJK - Kellie Jay Keen
MM - other woman assaulted
BL - Ben Lindsay, defendant
C - Crown delivering prosecution's case
M -Mr Majid, solicitor defending BL

LWS - Let Women Speak
PoW - Party of Women

No electronic devices were allowed in court so this is being tweeted later from notes made in court

BL: gave personal details (dob etc)

J: How do you plead to charge of assaulting KJK?
BL: Guilty
J: How do you plead to charge of assaulting MM?
BL: Guilty

C: These events took place at about 1pm involving KJK, who is the leader of the political party PoW and organiser of LWS events. She was setting up her camera equipment outside City Hall. There were people attending the event and about 100 counter protesters.

C: She felt something over her head, which turned out to be tomato soup, and was covered head to toe in it. MM was on her right side and was also covered head to toe in soup. This was caught on mobile phone footage.

J: I can imagine what that would be like so I don't need to see it.
C: The charge is level B3 assault. There was no injury suffered as it touched her head only. There is an application for compensation and costs but no victim statements - these would be provided at a later date.

J: Would you like me to delay sentencing for these?
C: No, I ask you to sentence today.
J: There are potentially various aggravation provisions. You're not saying there was aggravation by any of these?
C: No

J: Mr Majeed. BL pleads guilty on the basis of intention for the 1st count and recklessness for the 2nd. Looking at his personal circumstances, he's 34 with no previous convictions and here with support from his father and friends. In the background, he and many others are upset

J: with LWS being a platform for transphobia and bigotry according to him, which he says leads to abuse and discrimination against trans people, eg in housing. He also believed on the day that he heard upsetting things being said by her supporters.

M: The soup on her head represented blood on people's hands by the victimisation of trans people; leading to loss of life and abuse and the effect on their mental health.

M: I ask you to give him credit for pleading guilty. BL has been in employment for 18 months [discusses his income and outgoings]. I've nothing else to say except he would like to deal with this today.

M: Also, BL has a letter he'd like to read out, at your discretion obviously

J: Just let me have a look at the guidelines so not at this minute [looks them up]
J: Alright, so you have a letter?
BL: I want to address the court. I don't have a letter but I have notes to guide me. I wasn't comfy to submit them in writing.

J: Alright. There won't be any ruling on political rights or wrongs. This needs to be respectful and respect that there's differences of opinion. I have to ensure that there's no inflammatory language & if in my view u cross the line, & only my view counts, I will ask you to stop

BL: Thank you. I apologise for using the court's time but am morally unable to extend this apology to KJK. She is a public figure with a platform of transphobia. She is shunned by mainstream feminists. In fact, she says she's not a feminist and that feminism must be abolished.

BL: She's actually happy to be described as transphobic.

J: I'm going to stop you there. What you've admitted to is a criminal offense. I'm not sure this will help, as it meant to be personal mitigation only.

BL: On the day, I heard her supporters say:
that queers should be killed, telling AIDS jokes and shouting "Fuck up the Trannies". I think this is mitigation

BL: The real world harm done by her supporters must be opposed. All have a responsibility for scapegoating minority groups

My trans family, friends and co-workers lives are not negotiable.
[long pause]

J: You're a 34 yr old man with no previous convictions. I accept this was out of character for you and give you full credit for pleading guilty.

J: On the day in question, a political event was taking part outside City Hall. Emotions were perhaps running high. There were protesters against PoW and [some?] of trans rights in the air. You poured a significant quantity of tomato soup on the head of a political party leader.

J: I accept the 2nd charge was reckless rather than intentional. The victims were covered in soup from head to toe, but not physically injured. But this would have been upsetting and intimidating for both victims.

J: There's no information about costs, and the prosecution has asked to proceed rather than wait. I accept your actions are out of character in my view and motivated by your beliefs. You seem erudite and thoughtful but this is a criminal offence - an assault on 2 other persons.

J: The sentencing guidelines must be used, noting that 3b is the lowest category. It is somewhat more serious by the political context. It's important that despite differences in politics there is respect and control on all sides. Assault falls outside of respect and control.

J: In view of your guilty plea and no previous convictions I will deal with this with financial penalties.

J: Modest compensation of £200 (£100 for each person). A £100 fine for each and £80 for surcharge and £85 towards court costs. Which makes a total of £565.

J: You will have to pay £50 a month to pay it within a year, and have a month to make your first payment. If you fall behind you will receive a collection order to ensure payment.

BL: Thank you.

[hearing ended]

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