SEVEN PEOPLE FACE TRIAL OVER ALLEGED TRUMP TURNBERRY DAMAGE

Seven people are due to stand trial over alleged damage to Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire. Prosecutors accuse Kieran Robson, Uzma Bashir, Ricky Southall, Autumn Ward, Rebecca Sian Davies, John Moxley and Dylan Chiaramello of malicious mischief at the resort on 8 March 2025. The indictment says prosecutors will seek to prove that the alleged offence had a “terrorist connection” under the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008. At a High Court hearing in Glasgow, lawyers entered not guilty pleas for six of the accused. Southall’s lawyer, Mairi-Clare McMillan, said she needed more time to take instructions after recently taking on his case.

According to the indictment, the group dug up turf and sprayed Glyphosate or a similar substance on fairways and greens. Prosecutors also allege that they painted political slogans on the grass and scored a slogan into the turf. The indictment says they painted slogans on a building, walls and pillars, damaged a sprinkler system that caused flooding, and broke a light. Robson, Bashir and Davies face a further charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice. Prosecutors allege that the three used vehicles with false registration numbers to travel to and from the resort on 7 and 8 March 2025, concealing their movements to avoid arrest.

None of the seven attended the virtual hearing; their lawyers appeared on their behalf. The court heard that lawyers were considering a substantial draft of agreed evidence. Prosecutor John Keenan KC said: “A trial has been identified for February 14, 2028 in Glasgow for a period of 15 days.” Lord Arthurson set a further preliminary hearing for 15 March 2027.