On 17 May 2010, the trial began at Hove crown court of the seven activists for conspiring to cause criminal damage; the maximal sentence (for guilt) being five years. They admitted they had sabotaged the factory – their defence team argued the damage was legally justified if it occurs while trying to prevent greater damage to other properties – in this case, homes in Gaza. The lawful excuse defence was invoked, according to which it can be lawful to commit an offence to prevent a more serious crime. Caroline Lucas, the MP for Brighton and the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, supported the activists and said that this was a case in which she considered non-violent direct action legitimate. Stephen Shay, prosecuting, argued that the factory was so small that even if it had been supplying Israel, it would have made no difference to the war in Gaza. EDO managing director Paul Hills denied in court that the company supplied components to Israel but said it did make parts for F-16 fighter planes. Judge George Bathurst-Norman said that, despite his denials, it was clear that there was enough evidence to the contrary and that the certificates required for arms export licenses were "not worth the paper they are written on," as they can be easily manipulated. Summing-up In his summing-up jury instructions, the judge suggested "you may well think that hell on earth would not be an understatement of what the Gazans suffered in that time". He highlighted the testimony by Caroline Lucas, MP (Grn) for a Brighton seat that "all democratic paths had been exhausted" before the activists embarked on their action. He suggested to the jury that one should be rewarded, stating that: "People like Mr Osmond, who put themselves in harm's way to protect others..there may be much to be admired about people like that. Perhaps if he had done it in this country in the last war he would probably have received a George Medal." He described the British and US governments as doing "nothing", however excluding that train of thought from relevance, telling jurors: "You must put aside any feelings of being thoroughly ashamed of our government, of the American government and the United Nations and the EU in doing nothing about what was happening." He added that "It may be as you went through what I can only describe as