THE Attorney General was “carefully considering” today whether to refer the Colston statue case to the Court of Appeal after a jury acquitted four people of criminal damage.

Suella Braverman posted on social media after several Tory MPs attacked the jury system following Wednesday’s verdict at Bristol Crown Court. 

Former housing secretary Robert Jenrick claimed that the acquittal of the four, who were cleared of criminal damage over the toppling the slaver’s statue during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Bristol in June 2020, had “undermined the rule of law.” 

Other Tory MPs asserted that the decision would set a “dangerous precedent,” allowing people to damage other statues without punishment. 

Writing on Twitter, Ms Braverman said: “Trial by jury is an important guardian of liberty and must not be undermined.

“However, the decision in the Colston statue case is causing confusion.

“Without affecting the result of this case, as Attorney General I am able to refer matters to the Court of Appeal so that senior judges have the opportunity to clarify the law for future cases.

“I am carefully considering whether to do so.”

An acquittal cannot be overturned unless fresh evidence is submitted. If the case is referred to the Court of Appeal, the judges will only be able to clarify points of law. 

Lawyers spoke out against the Tory attacks on the justice system on Thursday, pointing out that jury decisions do not set legal precedent. 

During the 10-day trial, the defendants, known as the Colston Four, did not deny pulling down the statue, instead arguing that its presence constituted a hate crime, so its removal did not constitute an offence.