Trial Begins for Accused Sycamore Gap Tree Felllers

During the trial of Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, accused of felling the iconic Sycamore Gap tree and damaging Hadrian's Wall, jurors were presented with messages and voice notes exchanged between the two men. The prosecution argued that the pair appeared to revel in the public and media reaction to the incident, with Graham telling Carruthers, 'Jeffrey, it’s gone viral, it’s gone worldwide, it will be on ITV News tonight.' The court heard the men shared social media reactions and commented on their actions, with one message referring to the 'professional' quality of the tree cut. Prosecutors allege the men coordinated the act, with one operating a chainsaw and the other filming, and later circulated news coverage of their actions. Both defendants deny charges of criminal damage to the tree and the historic wall. The trial included analysis of phone records and social media activity linking the accused to the incident.