Sycamore Gap vandals face their fate in English court for felling beloved tree
Justice Christina Lambert warned Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers that they could face a lengthy period in custody following their convictions in May of two counts each of criminal damage. Each count carries a penalty of up to 10 years behind bars. The illegal felling in Northumberland National Park on Sept. 28, 2023, caused instant outrage, and news quickly spread beyond the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire. It was not Britain's biggest or oldest tree, but it was prized for its picturesque setting, symmetrically planted between two hills along the wall that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tree had long been known to locals but became famous after a cameo in Kevin Costner's 1991 film, 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.' It drew tourists, lovers, landscape photographers, and even those who spread the ashes of loved ones. It was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016.
Graham, 39, and Carruthers, 32, once close friends who had a falling out since their arrests, denied taking part in the act, claiming they were each at their homes that night. But evidence shown to the jury implicated both men. Graham's Range Rover was near the tree around the time it fell. Grainy video of the felling was found on his phone – with metadata showing that it was shot at the location of the tree. As digital data showed Graham's vehicle on its way back to where the two lived about 40 minutes away, Carruthers got a text from his girlfriend with footage of their 12-day-old son. 'I've got a better video than that,' Carruthers replied. The jury didn't hear evidence of a motive for the crime, but prosecutor Richard Wright suggested in his closing argument that the two had been on a 'moronic mission' and cut down the tree as a joke. 'They woke up the morning after and… it must have dawned on them that they couldn't see anyone else smiling,' Wright said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
7 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Sycamore Gap vandals face their fate in English court for felling beloved tree
With one man holding a phone to record the tree's notorious fall and the other working a chainsaw, a pair of vandals forever altered the landscape of a beloved section of Hadrian's Wall in northern England. In less than three minutes, the beloved Sycamore Gap tree that had stood nearly 150 years crashed to the ground. The fate of the men convicted of the senseless act now lies in the hands of a judge who will sentence them Tuesday in Newcastle Crown Court. Justice Christina Lambert warned Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers that they could face a lengthy period in custody following their convictions in May of two counts each of criminal damage. Each count carries a penalty of up to 10 years behind bars. The illegal felling in Northumberland National Park on Sept. 28, 2023, caused instant outrage, and news quickly spread beyond the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire. It was not Britain's biggest or oldest tree, but it was prized for its picturesque setting, symmetrically planted between two hills along the wall that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tree had long been known to locals but became famous after a cameo in Kevin Costner's 1991 film, 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.' It drew tourists, lovers, landscape photographers, and even those who spread the ashes of loved ones. It was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016. Graham, 39, and Carruthers, 32, once close friends who had a falling out since their arrests, denied taking part in the act, claiming they were each at their homes that night. But evidence shown to the jury implicated both men. Graham's Range Rover was near the tree around the time it fell. Grainy video of the felling was found on his phone – with metadata showing that it was shot at the location of the tree. As digital data showed Graham's vehicle on its way back to where the two lived about 40 minutes away, Carruthers got a text from his girlfriend with footage of their 12-day-old son. 'I've got a better video than that,' Carruthers replied. The jury didn't hear evidence of a motive for the crime, but prosecutor Richard Wright suggested in his closing argument that the two had been on a 'moronic mission' and cut down the tree as a joke. 'They woke up the morning after and… it must have dawned on them that they couldn't see anyone else smiling,' Wright said.
Al Arabiya
19 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Man Charged After Kilt-Wearing Attacker Smashes Case Holding Scotland's Stone of Destiny
An Australian man has been charged with malicious mischief for allegedly smashing a glass case holding the Stone of Destiny–an ancient symbol of Scottish nationhood. Arnaud Harixcalde Logan, 35, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday to face the charge, which is similar to vandalism. Logan, whose address was given as Sydney, wasn't asked to enter a plea and was ordered detained until a hearing next week. Police said that they were called to a disturbance at Perth Museum in central Scotland on Saturday after reports of a kilt-wearing man attempting to smash the case containing the royal rock. The 335-pound (150-kilogram) sandstone block is also known as the Stone of Scone–and was used in the crowning ceremonies of medieval Scottish monarchs at Scone Abbey near Perth. It was stolen by England's King Edward I in the 13th century and taken to Westminster Abbey in London, where it was installed under the seat of the coronation chair. It has been used in coronations at the abbey ever since–first of English and then of British monarchs. The English and Scottish crowns were united under one monarch in the 17th century. The stone's presence in London long irked Scottish nationalists. In 1950, it was stolen from Westminster Abbey by four Glasgow university students but was returned in time for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. It was given back to Scotland in 1996, 700 years after its seizure, and displayed in Edinburgh Castle with the understanding that it would return to England for use in future coronations. Sensitivities around the stone meant that it had to be moved to London in secrecy and amid tight security for the coronation of King Charles III in 2023. Last year, it was put on display at the newly renovated Perth Museum, where, according to the building's website, there are a range of 24/7 security measures in place at the Museum to protect this precious object. Culture Perth and Kinross, which oversees the museum, said the stone wasn't damaged in the incident.
Arab News
20 hours ago
- Arab News
Four confirmed dead in small plane crash at London regional airport
LONDON: Four people were killed when a small plane crashed at a London regional airport at the weekend, UK police said on Monday. The plane went down around 4:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Sunday, shortly after departing London Southend airport in southeast England for the Netherlands. 'Sadly, we can now confirm that all four people on board died,' Essex Police chief superintendent Morgan Cronin told reporters. 'We are working to officially confirm their identities. At this stage, we believe all four are foreign nationals,' he added. Cronin said the force was interviewing dozens of witnesses, and detectives and forensic teams were working to 'build an accurate picture of what happened.' He added that the airport 'will remain closed until further notice.' Video footage had shown a 12-meter (39-feet) plane in flames with a plume of black smoke at Southend-on-Sea. Police evacuated a nearby golf club and rugby club as a precaution. According to the BBC, the plane was a Beechcraft B200. Southend-on-Sea is about 65 kilometers (40 miles) east of the capital, and its airport is the sixth largest in the London area.
