A climate activist has pleaded not guilty to trespass during Everton’s match against Newcastle at Goodison Park earlier this year.
The game on Thursday, March 17, was halted for eight minutes after a spectator wearing a “Just Stop Oil” t-shirt went on to the pitch and used a zip tie to lock his own neck to one of the goalposts. Video footage shown live on Amazon Prime showed Everton staff struggling to break the tie, eventually resorting to bolt cutters to cut through it.
Former student Louis McKechnie was later charged with aggravated trespass and pitch encroachment during a regulated football match. The 21 year old, of no fixed abode, appeared over video link at Sefton Magistrates’ Court this morning and spoke briefly to confirm his personal details and deny the charges.
