BNP race-hate trial kicks off

Elsa McLaren and agencies | Wednesday, 1 November 2006 Source: Times Online

The race hate trial of the British National Party leader Nick Griffin got under way amid chaotic scenes at Leeds Crown Court this morning.

Surrounded by police, camera crews and minders wearing dark glasses, Mr Griffin, 46, kissed and shook hands with BNP supporters during an extended walkabout outside the front of the court.

Protesters chanting "smash the BNP" and "black and white, unite and fight", jeered and heckled him and sounded foghorns.

About 50 police kept the two groups apart and helped to clear the way for Mr Griffin to enter court.

Mr Griffin, of Llanerfyl, Powys, mid Wales, is charged with using words or behaviour intended to stir up racial hatred. A fellow BNP activist, Mark Collett, 24, of Swithland Lane, Rothley, Leicestershire faces four similar charges.

These relate to anti-Muslim speeches the pair gave to activists in 2004, which were secretly filmed by an undercover BBC reporter for the documentary called The Secret Agent.

The trial was adjourned until Friday morning when the prosecution will open the case.

Judge Norman Jones, QC, the Recorder of Leeds, warned the jury of seven women and five men that the case involved "both politics and issues relating to criminal law". He told them to ignore any leaflets handed to them on the way into court, and to destroy any they had already been given.

He added: "There's a deal of demonstrations outside today. You must not allow that in any way to influence you."