Sarisbury Green man becomes 21st person to be charged with violent conduct following protests in Southampton over murder of Henry Nowak
21st person charged with violent conduct following Southampton protests
A 28-year-old man has pleaded guilty to violent disorder after becoming the 21st person to be charged following a protest over the murder of student Henry Nowak.
Denis Read, of Addison Road, Sarisbury Green, appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court where he entered his plea to the single charge in connection with the violent demonstration in Southampton on June 2 .
His case was sent to Southampton Crown Court for sentencing on June 12 and he was remanded in custody until then.
Hampshire Constabulary also said that a 16-year-old boy from Southampton and a 39-year-old man from the city had been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and had been bailed until September 8 pending further inquiries.
The violent disorder came after anger erupted following the release of police body-worn video showing 18-year-old Mr Nowak being placed in handcuffs by police moments before he became unconscious and subsequently died.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for life to serve a minimum of 21 years for Mr Nowak's murder after falsely claiming that the teenager had racially abused him.
The crown court was told on Monday that about 1,000 people gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station for a demonstration which featured speeches by Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon ) and other "far-right influencers".
Hundreds of people from the gathering then proceeded to the Portswood area where the violence erupted, including protesters throwing bricks, chairs and other items and shouting abuse at police in riot gear.