It is reported that section 69 of the Sentencing Act 2000 is to be applied to their sentencing.
Section 69 is headed "Terrorist Connection" and is within Part 4 of the 2020 Act (Exercising the court's discretion) Chapter 3 (Seriousness and Determining Sentence). Terrorist Connection is one of a number of aggravating factors set out in Chapter 3.
The original section 69:
The original section 69 came into force on 1 December 2020 and stated:
In December 2025, a trial was taking place in the Crown Court at Woolwich before Johnson J (“the trial judge”). Six defendants were charged with offences arising out of an incident on 6 August 2024 at a factory in Filton, Bristol, occupied and operated by Elbit Systems Ltd.
Rajiv Menon KC was leading counsel representing Charlotte Head, the first defendant named on the indictment.
There were rulings of law before and during the trial, including in relation to what is sometimes called jury equity; to the defence of lawful excuse to a count of criminal damage; and to the relevance and admissibility of certain evidence.
Following submissions as to the legal directions to be given to the jury, the trial judge gave a ruling on 22 December 2025 in which he said ...
The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 responded to the legacy of “The Troubles”, a period of conflict in Northern Ireland that began in the late 1960s and continued until the Belfast (or Good Friday) Agreement of 10 April 1998. More than 3,500 people were killed during the Troubles, with approximately 40,000 injured. Around 1,200 killings remain unsolved.
The 2023 Act created the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (“ICRIR”), whose functions include carrying out reviews of deaths and serious injuries caused by conduct forming part of the Troubles.
Inquisitorial reviews by the ICRIR have replaced police investigations, investigations by the Police Ombudsman, inquests and civil claims relating to Troubles-related conduct, and the 2023 Act has brought existing investigations, inquests and claims to an end.
The Act also introduced
The four convicted were Leona Kamio (30), Samuel Corner (23), Fatema Rajwani (21), and Charlotte Head (29). The jury returned unanimous verdicts.
Samuel Corner was acquitted of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent (Offences against the Person Act 1861 section 18) for striking a police officer with a sledgehammer but he was convicted (by a majority of 11 to one) of the section 20 offence.
Two other defendants, Jordan Devlin (31), and Zoe Rogers (22), were acquitted of criminal damage.
During the trial, the
Almost a year ago, this blog published The "Rule of Law" - Notes for students in whjch it was noted that there is no precise definition of the term Rule of Law. The post pointed to various authoritative sources of information about that the Rule of Law, as a concept, ought to contain in modern times.
In November 2025, the House of Lords Constitution Committee published - Rule of law: holding the line between anarchy and tyranny - Committees - UK Parliament. This is the Committee's 13th Report of Session 2024-26.
Jonathan Sumption, the former Justice of the Supreme Court, in his book "The Challenges of Democracy and the Rule of Law" notes that there are rival approaches to the rule of law which are referred to as the 'thin' and 'thick' definitions.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (previous post June 2025) has run out of time as the end of the 2024-26 Parliamentary session approaches. The result is that the Bill will not carry over to the next session.
The King's Speech, marking the start of the next session of Parliament, is to be on 13 May 2026.
The full Parliamentary history of the Bill may be seen at Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - Parliamentary Bills. The Bill is a Private Members' Bill sponsored by Kim Leadbeater MP and Lord Falconer of Thoroton. It was introduced in the House of Commons on 16 October 2024 and completed its time in the Commons with Third Reading on 30 June 2025. Transferred to the House of Lords, the Bill reached committee stage by 14 November 2025. Largely due to members of the House of Lords moving numerous amendments, the Bill did not complete committee stage.
Proponents of the Bill
Peerages and membership of the House of Lords - House of Commons Library
The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 18 March 2026. This means that at the end of the 2024-26 parliamentary session, the remaining hereditary peers will no longer be entitled to sit and vote in the House of Lords by virtue of their hereditary peerage. The Upper House will instead comprise only life peers and the Lords Spiritual.
This briefing looks at peerages in general, both hereditary and life.
The State Opening of Parliament is on 13 May 2026.
Electing a Modern Second Chamber – Electoral Reform Society – ERS
Addition - 30 April 2026:
