Jeremy Corbyn’s brother Piers will stand trial for attending Hyde Park mass demos during height of Covid-19 lockdown
- Piers Corbyn today denied to charges of breaching Covid-19 lockdown rules
- Mr Corbyn, 73, is accused of attending two demonstrations in Hyde Park
- Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard Mr Corbyn is pleading not guilty
- He was sent forward for trial on the charges at the same court on October 23
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Piers Corbyn, the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, is to go on trial for attending mass protests during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 73-year-old, of Southwark in south London, pleaded not guilty at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon to two charges of participating in a gathering in public of more than two people in England during the coronavirus emergency period.
The charges relate to two incidents in Hyde Park in central London, on May 16 and May 30.
Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour leader Jeremy appeared this afternoon in Westminster Magistrates’ Court, pictured, where he denied two charges of breaching lockdown regulations
Corbyn, 73, pictured outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court today, cited human rights and freedom of expression when denying both charges relating to two demonstrations in Hyde Park
Mr Corbyn, pictured in Hyde Park on May 16, was led away by police officers while attending the demonstration against the government’s continuing Covid-19 lockdown
Piers Corbyn’s defence counsel, Richard Parry, said his client cited his human rights – and his right to freedom of expression – in denying the charges.
Mr Parry said: ‘The issues are human rights ones.
‘Article 10 and 11 are engaged, rights of freedom of expression and exercising those rights.’
Prosecutor Misha Majid said Piers Corbyn received a fixed penalty notice on May 9 for allegedly protesting over lockdown restrictions.
Corbyn, wearing a black suit, dark blue shirt and claret tie, sat with a newspaper tucked under his arm and wrote in a notebook during the 25-minute hearing.
The one-day trial is due to take place on October 23, at the same court.
Prosecutor Misha Majid said Piers Corbyn received a fixed penalty notice on May 9 for allegedly protesting over lockdown restrictions