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Burning Grenfell effigy model 'was joke about friends' Man cleared over burning Grenfell effigy model film
(about 2 hours later)
Figures pictured on a cardboard effigy of Grenfell Tower filmed being burned were not meant to represent people who died, a court heard. A man who filmed a cardboard effigy of Grenfell Tower being burned on a bonfire has been cleared of posting "grossly offensive" material.
Paul Bussetti, 47, told Westminster Magistrates' Court the images depicted friends who were at a bonfire party on 3 November 2018. Paul Bussetti shared the video which he took at a party in south London on WhatsApp, and it was subsequently posted on YouTube, the court heard.
He shared footage of the effigy on WhatsApp and it was added to YouTube. Prosecutors claimed it was racist but he said the figures on the model were meant to represent him and his friends.
Mr Bussetti denies sending "grossly offensive" material via a public communications network. The 47-year-old was found not guilty at Westminster Magistrates' Court.
The clip of the cardboard building, which had "Grenfell Tower" written on it, was recorded at a party attended by about 30 people in south London. Last-minute disclosure of evidence revealed on Thursday afternoon that a second video of the incident had been taken by someone else.
Prosecutors said the footage is racist in its content, while a relative of one of the 72 people who died in the blaze on 14 June 2017 called it "revolting". Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said: "I cannot be sure the video relied on by the Crown is the one taken by the defendant."
Mr Bussetti, of South Norwood, told the court the effigy had been created by his friend Steve Bull and was meant as a joke "about us". The clip of the cardboard building, which had "Grenfell Tower" written on it, was recorded at a party attended by about 30 people on 3 November last year.
It sparked outrage online and a relative of one of the 72 people who died in the blaze on 14 June 2017 said it was "revolting".
Mr Bussetti, of South Norwood, had denies sending "grossly offensive" material via a public communications network.
He told the court the effigy had been created by his friend Steve Bull and was meant as a joke "about us".
Asked who the characters on the effigy were, he said they were "the majority of people that were at the party" who had all found it "funny".Asked who the characters on the effigy were, he said they were "the majority of people that were at the party" who had all found it "funny".
One black-clad figure who was referred to as "ninja" was meant to represent his friend's son who did martial arts, while his own image had been on the other side of the box, the Mr Bussetti said.One black-clad figure who was referred to as "ninja" was meant to represent his friend's son who did martial arts, while his own image had been on the other side of the box, the Mr Bussetti said.
The father-of-two said he shared the footage with about 20 people on two WhatsApp groups but he had never intended it to go further.The father-of-two said he shared the footage with about 20 people on two WhatsApp groups but he had never intended it to go further.
When prosecutor Philip Scott suggested he sent the footage because it was in keeping with other "highly racist" content he shared, Mr Bussetti replied that it was "just banter" and denied being racist.When prosecutor Philip Scott suggested he sent the footage because it was in keeping with other "highly racist" content he shared, Mr Bussetti replied that it was "just banter" and denied being racist.
He also told the court he had not originally told police that the people in the tower were him and his friends because he was "scared" and "nervous". He also told the court he had not originally told police that the people in the tower were him and his friends because he was "scared" and "nervous".'
The trial continues. 'Appalling' disclosure
As the trial drew to a close the prosecution was criticised for failing to disclose evidence until the end of the case.
It was revealed another video of the model being burned was taken by someone else and posted to a separate WhatsApp group, which the defence claimed had not been disclosed to them.
The person who filmed that footage, and the man who made the effigy, both said the figures on the model were of the defendant and his friends.
The defence team argued it is was not clear whether the footage which ended up on the news and online was that taken by Mr Bussetti.
His lawyer Mark Summers QC said: "We have very, very serious doubts about the integrity of this prosecution."
Ms Arbuthnot said: "I am just appalled at the disclosure in this case."