Oxford University student and protester found guilty in court
Daniel Knorr was found guilty of conspiracy to commit a public nuisance at Manchester Crown Court yesterday (Friday, February 21).
The 23-year-old along with 54-year-old Margaret Reid, 30-year-old Indigo Rumbelow and 22-year-old Ella Ward received a majority guilty verdict after being on trial.
The four were arrested in the early hours of the August 5 2024 as they left a BnB in Gatley Close to head to Manchester Airport.
READ MORE: Shock as five Oxfordshire businesses close in 2025
Charged with conspiracy, they were held in prison on remand for six months until Tuesday, February 4 when bail was granted on the second day of the trial.
The trial lasted 15 days and sentencing has been adjourned until May 23 for pre-sentencing reports.
Bail was not granted, so all four have been sent back to prison to await sentencing.
During the trial before Judge MacAdam, the four defendants admitted planning to access the airport via the perimeter fence and then if possible three would glue on to the taxiway.
They made the case that they were seeking to prevent harm and inform the public of the “huge risks unfolding right now due to the collapsing climate”.
READ MORE: Motorcyclist hospitalised with serious injuries after road barrier crash
A statement from Knorr said: “In the second week of trial Judge MacAdam sought clarification from me, asking ‘If you knew a disaster was going to happen you would take steps to warn people, wouldn’t you?’
“Wasn’t that exactly what I was trying to do? The British legal system knows the stark reality we face and seemingly understands the common sense response to such reality.
“Yet again and again it is those seeking to stop the harm who end up in the dock and those profiting from destruction who are protected.”
A Just Stop Oil statement added: “We will once again be stepping into action this April to demand that governments commit to an international treaty to phase out the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.
“You can help make this happen by coming to a talk and signing up for action online.”
READ MORE: BMW freezes £600m electric car plan at Mini Plant in Oxford
Missed a copy of the Oxford Mail you wanted? Here’s what to dohttps://t.co/n1aacoWEDF
— Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) February 22, 2024
The Biochemistry student was previously convicted of aggravated trespass after he and two others stopped play during the Ashes cricket match between England and Australia in June 2023.
Storming onto the pitch during the Test match at Lord’s cricket ground, the trio including Knorr proceeded to throw orange powder across the playing surface.
Pictures of the then-21-year-old student under wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow’s arm went viral around the world.
Knorr was also one of two students who spray-painted Radcliffe Camera in Oxford orange with fire extinguishers in October 2023.
