Social media race hate trial adjourned for medical reasons

The trial of a social media user accused of inciting racial hatred before and after the Southport stabbings has been adjourned because of medical issues.

Jurors sitting at Loughborough Courthouse heard Mark Heath’s absence from the dock on the second day of his crown court trial was “related to medical matters”.

Heath denies stirring up racial hatred on X, formerly Twitter, while publishing allegedly threatening, abusive or insulting material to the site between July 22 and August 6 this year.

Adjourning the case until Wednesday, Judge Timothy Spencer KC told jurors: “We can’t make any more progress today with this trial.

“Realistically he won’t get himself into this courtroom today. With considerable regret I am going to send you away.”

Jurors were told during the Crown’s opening speech on Monday that Heath, of Kestrel Road in Oakham, Rutland, claims his posts were legitimate comment while exercising his freedom of speech.

Opening the case for the Crown, prosecutor Lyndon Harris told jurors that among the tweets was one republishing rally dates originally posted by Tommy Robinson, and another on July 29 – the day of the Southport attacks – claiming the offender responsible was an asylum seeker named Ali Al Shakati.

One of the tweets from July 29 read: “Just think how many ALI AL SHAKATIs are arriving and already here, ready to butcher our kids!!”

Follow-up messages by Heath said the stabbings were a “tipping point” and claimed the attacker was a failed asylum seeker who was on a plane to Rwanda “that got stopped” by the Labour party, Sir Keir Starmer and “other lefties”.

Jurors were told on Tuesday that Heath, 45, was interviewed by police about the allegations on August 7.

Mr Harris told the jury panel: “The defendant was interviewed. He made no reply to all questions asked of him.”