A Labour councillor who said far-right protesters’ throats should be cut was acting “completely out of character”, a court has heard.
Ricky Jones, 58, described demonstrators as “disgusting Nazi fascists”, following the Southport riots, Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.
The now-suspended councillor said: “They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all.”
He was also seen to draw his finger across his throat as he spoke to the cheering crowd.
Kevin Courtney, a friend of Mr Jones and a retired teacher and former joint General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) gave evidence in the trial on Thursday.
He said: “I had not heard him say those words or anything in any way similar to that.
Ricky Jones has been appearing in Snaresbrook Crown Court over the incident
|
PA
“I think they are wrong. I was surprised that Ricky said them… I think it is completely our of character.”
The court was also told that both men had been at rallies together before and campaigned for Stand Up To Racism, an anti-racism group.
Although Mr Courtney had been at the rally in Walthamstow on August 7, and had taken a photo with Mr Jones, he told the court he was not aware of what was said.
Instead, he said he learnt of the incident when he saw the videos afterwards.
LATEST IN CRIME:
Jones was arrested on August 8 last year, before being interviewed at Brixton Police Station that night
|
PA
When asked by Hossein Zahir KC, defending, if Jones had ever encouraged any form of violence, Mr Courtney responded: “No, it was a complete shock when I saw that video.
“Ricky’s speech was wrong, but it didn’t fit at all with the mood of the gathering that we were at.
“The mood was peaceful… Ricky’s words just didn’t gel with that at all.”
Jurors were told the anti-racism protest had been organised in response to a demonstration outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau, following the Southport murders.
Before the demonstration, the Labour Party had warned Mr Jones to stay away from any such protest.
However, despite this, Mr Jones said he would “have attended anyway”.
He said: “It’s important for us to turn up to demonstrations like this to support our communities.”
The 58-year-old had previously been a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent since 2019.
However, he was arrested on August 8 last year, before being interviewed at Brixton Police Station that night.
Mr Jones denies one count of encouraging violent disorder, and the trial continues.
