Anti-vaxx nurse will face trial next month for organising three anti-lockdown rallies
An anti-vaxx nurse will face trial next month for organising three anti-lockdown rallies at the height of the pandemic.
Kay Shemirani, also known as Kate Shemirani, 56, is said to have led demonstrations in Trafalgar Square on August 29 and September 19 last year, and Whitehall on September 5.
Fiona Hine, 36, also appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court charged with three counts of breaking lockdown restrictions by attending those gatherings.
Shemirani, who lost her nursing license, has made a name for herself by promoting conspiracy theories about Covid, 5G and the vaccines.
Hine, who also goes by Fiona Rose Diamond, has a smaller social media following by promoting various conspiracies and calling the vaccine rollout a ‘genocide’.
Kay Shemirani, also known as Kate Shemirani, 56, is said to have led demonstrations in Trafalgar Square on August 29 and September 19 last year, and Whitehall on September 5
Shemirani was removed from social media and suspended from the Nursing and Midwifery Council for spreading misinformation
Representing Shemirani, who was did not attend court, Robert Bullock said his client would be arguing the restrictions are ‘unconstitutional’.
‘We are facing three charges of holding an event, which could be equated to organising the event, and very simply we submit we are not actually organisers.
‘There are other factors legally, on the basis of human rights,’ said Mr Bullock.
‘Of course, we are referring to the simple right of assembly. That is longstanding and that would simply have to be abolished.’
Mr Bullock said that his client did not dispute attending those events, but maintains she was not the organiser.
He asked the court for a number of witnesses to be called in this trial, including several police officers.
Mr Bullock said: ‘They deal with Piers Corbyn, someone who has been a very prominent figure in this movement from the outset.
‘Those officers have had a number of dealings with him. This relates in particular to the 29 August charges for these defendants.’
Pictured: Kate Shemirani with Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
Maskless supporters of the pair, including Piers Corbyn, packed the public gallery.
Sherimani, of Uckfield, west Sussex, denies three charges of holding a meeting of more than 30 people during an emergency period in England.
Hine, of Arabella Drive, Putney, south London, denies two charges of participating in gatherings of more than thirty people and a charge of participating in a gathering of more than six people during during the emergency period in England.
They were bailed ahead of their trial before District Judge Briony Clarke on December 6.