Activist cleared of criminal damage over Churchill statue graffiti

Pro-Palestine activist Olax Outis has been found not guilty of criminal damage at Southwark Crown Court. Mr Outis had spray-painted slogans on the Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square, central London, on February 27.

The Charges

The court heard that Mr Outis, who is also known as Caspar San Giorgi, climbed onto the statue shortly before 4am. He was accused of causing more than £7,000 of damage by using red spray paint to cover the statue with phrases including 'Stop the Genocide' and 'Free Palestine'. Slogans also described Churchill as a 'Zionist war criminal' and called for former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to stand trial for war crimes.

Defence Argument

Mr Outis denied the criminal damage charge, telling the jury that he did not believe he had committed a criminal act. He argued that he was sending a message to Parliament and disputed that the washable paint had actually damaged the statue. He stated that if he had more time and a larger canvas, he would have written 'If Keir Starmer doesn’t come to The Hague, The Hague will come for him', expressing a wish to see Sir Keir on trial at The Hague.

He told the jury that whether he was convicted or not was not a major concern, as he could be proud of having spoken about injustice and accounted for his actions. A heritage warden for the Greater London Authority alerted police after witnessing the incident. Mr Outis believed that since the paint could be washed off, no damage had occurred and his actions could not be criminal as he was 'preventing a crime' with his protest.

Official Reaction

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, a representative from 10 Downing Street described the defacing of the statue as 'completely abhorrent', stating that Churchill was a 'great Briton' and that the government would always stand up for its values, with the perpetrator needing to be held to account.

What Happens Next

Mr Outis, aged 39, was found not guilty at Southwark Crown Court on Monday afternoon. No further action is expected in relation to this case.