Protests outside Epping hotel followed Kebatu’s arrestpublished at 13:42 British Summer Time
13:42 BST
Image source, PA MediaImage caption,
Police officers stationed outside of The Bell Hotel ahead of a demonstration on 27 July
On the first day of the trial, prosecutor Stuart Cowen told the judge the incidents “attracted quite a lot of publicity” due to the defendant’s personal circumstances.
Hadush Kebatu is from Ethiopia and was staying at The Bell Hotel in Epping as an asylum seeker.
Thousands of people gathered in protest near the hotel in the weeks following Kebatu’s arrest – as well as groups of counter-protesters.
Dozens were subsequently arrested in connection with disorder near the hotel, and many have since been charged.
The use of the hotel to house asylum seekers has itself been subject to its own court hearings.
Epping Forest District Council had secured a temporary injunction from the High Court ahead of a trial due later this year – which would have meant all migrants had to leave the hotel by 12 September.
That was then overturned by the Court of Appeal, meaning those at the hotel can stay for now. The council has since lost a legal attempt to appeal to the Supreme Court.
A full High Court hearing for a final decision on the hotel is expected in mid-October.