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Jewish Defense League thugs found guilty of assault at Palestine event in London
Two Jewish Defence League UK thugs were today found guilty of assault after they attacked a panel at a Palestine literary festival in September.
Roberta Moore was convicted of two counts of assault and one count of possession of an offensive weapon. Her accomplice Robert De Jonge was convicted of assault.
Both initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, but De Jonge on Thursday changed his plea to guilty for reason of recklessness.
De Jonge argued he had only meant to cause a “distraction” when he rushed the stage and assaulted Andy Simons, the chairperson of the panel and an organizer with Haringey Justice for Palestinians.
But district judge Julia Newton ruled today that De Jonge had acted with full intent to cause injury.
The other man assaulted by Moore was Simon Assaf, who had been invited to the festival to run a stall for Bookmarks, the socialist bookshop. Moore sprayed the two men in the face with “Farb gel” spray paint, which the judge ruled was used in a way consistent with an offensive weapon.
The two were released on bail until sentencing on condition they did not attend any event involving Haringey Justice for Palestinians. Sentencing will take place 23 March. The hearing this week took place over two days.
Source: electronicintifada.net