‘Hate’ case jury set to retire
A jury in the trial of a campaigner accused of stirring up hatred during city protests has not yet retired to consider a verdict.
William Charlton, known as Billy, is accused of targeting “immigrants, Asians, black people and police” during a series of public rallies in Sunderland and causing a rise in racial crime and disorder in the city.
Prosecutors claim he hid his “racist agenda” under a “cloak of respectability” that he wanted to protect women and children from attacks.
The 54-year-old, of no fixed address, denies six charges of stirring up racial hatred and is being tried by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court.
Charlton has told the court his references to “immigrants” during his city centre speeches referred to “criminal immigrants” and was not intended as a racial slur or insult to anyone.
He has denied outright being that he is a racist and told jurors: “I would never racially abuse anybody.”
Charlton has said communities are “living in fear” and there have been police “cover-ups” about what has gone on in the city.
Judge Simon Batiste spent yesterday summing up the case to the jury, which will retire to consider a verdict today.
Charlton denies all charges.
The trial continues.