Indea Barbe-Wilson, a 31-year-old resident of Lewisham, has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of wilful obstruction of a highway. The accusation stems from an incident on May 2, where Barbe-Wilson allegedly impeded the free passage along Peckham Road, obstructing a coach destined to transport asylum seekers to the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Appearing before the court on Thursday (June 6), Barbe-Wilson refuted the charges levied against her. She is accused of obstructing the coach without lawful authority or excuse, an act deemed to have wilfully impeded the flow of traffic.
The charge follows a police response to reports of individuals obstructing the coach outside a Best Western Hotel in Peckham last month.
Barbe-Wilson is slated to stand trial at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on July 1, where the matter will be adjudicated over the course of one day. Until the commencement of the trial, she has been granted unconditional bail.
The case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the transport and accommodation of asylum seekers, with legal proceedings set to determine the outcome of the allegations against Barbe-Wilson.
