The trial of a suspended Labour councillor who is accused of encouraging violence in last summer’s riots has been delayed for seven months.
Ricky Jones, 57, is charged with encouraging violent disorder over a speech he made to a crowd in Walthamstow on August 7 last year.
Footage of the incident went viral online, as Jones spoke to the crowd about “disgusting Nazi fascists“ and said “we need to cut their throats and get rid of them“.
Jones’ trial had been set to start on Monday at Snaresbrook crown court.
But the case has now been delayed until August 11, in a decision that was taken last week.
An application was made to break the trial fixture, and the delay was agreed by Judge Oscar Del Fabbro.
Jones was suspended by Labour after the incident at an anti-fascist protest in Hoe Street, Walthamstow.
He appeared in court last September to plead not guilty to the charge of encouraging violent disorder.
Jones was initially remanded in custody after being charged, but is now on bail. “Jones was filmed addressing a crowd in Walthamstow on Wednesday 7 August during which he appeared to make remarks and a gesture to encourage others to act violently towards far-right protestors“, said Jaswant Narwal, chief crown prosecutor for CPS London North, when the charge was first announced.
“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
