A woman took a memorial to hostages taken by Hamas and put it in the bin, a court heard today.
Fiona Monro, 58, returned a week later and used felt tip pen to graffiti the board, which had been returned to its spot in Palmeira Square.
She was charged with stealing the board on 5 February, 2024 and criminal damage on 12 February, 2024. Monro, of Belgrave Place, Brighton, has denied both charges and her trial started this week at Lewes Crown Court.
Today, a jury heard from Magdalena de Laurans, who said she saw Monro taking the board and followed her to the seafront, where she saw her putting it in the bin.
She said she had been sat on a bench looking at the memorial at about 3.20pm when she spotted Monro acting oddly beside it.
She said: “She was looking around quite nervously and took her phone out and made a call which I was not able to hear.
“She drew my attention because she was looking around – usually people just go past or stop and look at the memorial. When someone looks everywhere that’s a bit unusual.”
When Monro, who was with her son Daniel, walked away, Miss de Laurans followed her and took a picture of her, she said.
Monro then returned to the board, took it and put it under her arm, and walked with Daniel and another man through Adelaide Crescent towards the sea, followed by Miss De Laurans.
When they got to the steps down to the beach, Miss de Laurans caught them up, and the man took a picture of her. Monro then put the board in the bin.
Cross-examining, defence counsel Hamish McCallum said: “Upon arriving at the seafront it’s a fact that you accompanied Fiona Monro to the bin and you assisted Fiona Monro and placed it in the bin.”
Miss de Laurans said: “No. That’s a horrible allegation.” She said she had been about 10 metres away from Monro when the board was put in the bin.
The trial continues.
