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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Jamie Grierson

Two people deny charges of damaging Stonehenge during Just Stop Oil protest

Orange powder being thrown at Stonehenge
The pair pleaded not guilty to damaging an ancient protected monument and causing a public nuisance. Photograph: Just Stop Oil/AFP/Getty Images

Two people have denied charges of damaging Stonehenge with orange powder during a Just Stop Oil protest.

Rajan Naidu, 74, and Niamh Lynch, 22, pleaded not guilty to two charges of damaging an ancient protected monument and causing a public nuisance after the incident on 19 June 2024.

A third defendant, Luke Watson, 35, was excused attendance from the hearing at Salisbury crown court and did not enter pleas to the charges he faces.

Watson, of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, will next appear in court on 30 May.

Judge Rufus Taylor fixed a two-week trial at Winchester crown court beginning on 20 October. A pre-trial review hearing will take place on 19 September.

Naidu, of Birmingham, and Lynch, of Bedford, were released on bail.

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