LONDON (BNO NEWS) – Harvie Brown, the protester accused of being a violent instigator during the G20 protests in London last year, was acquitted by a jury, the Guardian reported on Friday.

A jury at Isleworth crown court in Middlesex took only thirty minutes to clear Harvie Brown, 31, of violent disorder, in case that contradicted the police account of events and established that his injuries were likely inflicted by police officers.

Brown was among several hundred protesters attacked by police near the Bank of England during the G20 conferences last year. Attempts to contain the anti-capitalist and green activists inside cordons led to violent exchanges between both sides.

In court, Brown was accused of being the ringleader of an aggressive and violent group of protestors, encouraging the crowd to attack police officers – an accusation he staunchly denied. He would have faced three years in prison if he were found guilty.

"I was distressed that I was made out to be the aggressor. I was also very upset that emphasis of the report, which I felt should have been on the demonstration against the causes of the financial crisis, had turned into a focus on what was described as anti-police behavior," Brown said.

Rhona Friedman, defense attorney for Harvie Brown, said that "This prosecution should have never been brought. Footage and photographs show that Mr. Brown was repeatedly struck by police officers without resorting to violent retaliation." She continued, "Members of the jury were seen to flinch at footage of police officers deploying baton strikes against people in the crowd. When asked to decide who was guilty of unlawful violence and who was not, the jury could not have more clearly decided in Mr. Brown's favor."

Despite media reports and claims by police regarding violent actions by protesters at the G20 conference, there have been very few convictions for a demonstration of its size.

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