This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24554284
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ex-EDL leaders Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll cleared | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two former English Defence League (EDL) leaders have been cleared of a charge of obstructing the police. | Two former English Defence League (EDL) leaders have been cleared of a charge of obstructing the police. |
| Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll were accused of trying to defy a ban on marching from the East London Mosque to the scene of the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich. | |
| The pair denied obstructing police near Aldgate East station on 29 June. | The pair denied obstructing police near Aldgate East station on 29 June. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said there was "insufficient evidence" to proceed with the case. | |
| Armed Forces Day | |
| Mr Carroll, Mr Robinson's second cousin, learned of the decision when he attended Westminster Magistrates' Court to stand trail. | |
| The pair were charged after attempting to stage a charity walk to Woolwich Barracks via the East London Mosque, with a plan to lay flowers in memory of Fusilier Rigby on Armed Forces Day. | |
| Police said they offered two alternative routes which avoided Tower Hamlets and the mosque, and warned that anyone who tried to march to Woolwich would be arrested. | |
| In a statement the CPS said: "Both defendants were charged by police with obstructing a police officer in the execution of her duty, contrary to s89(2) Police Act 1996. | |
| "When this case was reviewed, the lawyer concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the actions of the suspects amounted to the offence. We therefore discontinued the case." | |
| Further charges | |
| Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is due to answer two further public order charges relating to an EDL demonstration in East London on 7 September. | |
| He is accused as a public assembly organiser of failing to comply with the condition of limiting speeches at the rally to 30 minutes, and is alleged to have incited others to breach the condition. | |
| He has indicated that he will plead not guilty to the charges. | |
| The pair, who set up the EDL in 2009, announced their withdrawal from the group earlier this month over concerns of the "dangers of far-right extremism". |