Draft:Essex Coroner Kidnapping Plot
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| Date | April 20, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Seax House |
| Location | Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom |
| Type | Attempted kidnapping, intimidation |
| Cause | Pseudo-legal conspiracy theories |
| Outcome | Arrest and conviction of four individuals |
| Arrests | Mark Kishon Christopher, Sean Harper, Shiza Harper, Matthew Martin |
| Charges | Conspiracy to kidnap, conspiracy to falsely imprison, sending malicious communications |
The Attempted Kidnapping of Essex Senior Coroner occurred on 20 April 2023, when a group led by Mark Kishon Christopher attempted to abduct Senior Coroner Lincoln Brookes from the Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford, England. The incident stemmed from the group's belief in pseudo-legal doctrines and conspiracy theories.
Background
[edit]Mark Kishon Christopher, a 59-year-old from Forest Gate, East London, was the self-appointed leader of the "Federal Postal Court Judges," a pseudo-legal group claiming jurisdiction over the UK and its dominions.
Within this group, Christopher held the title ":Global-Chief-Federal-Postal-Court-Judge &: Plenipotentiary-Judge." His group included:
- Matthew Dean Martin (47): Held roles as "sheriff" and "coroner" within the group.
- Sean Harper (38): Served as a "sheriff."
- Shiza Harper (45): Acted as a "postal inspector."
The group subscribed to the bogus linguistic theories of David Wynn Miller and sovereign citizen-style beliefs, asserting that established courts and governments were illegitimate and that their own laws were supreme.[1]
Attempted Kidnapping
[edit]Essex Police said its said that that Mr Brookes had received letters and emails from the group which did not initially cause concern, but grew more threatening, with one letter threatening “corporal punishment on the spot”. [2]
On 20 April 2023, Christopher and his followers entered Seax House, Chelmsford, where the Essex Coroner's Service operates. Wearing high-visibility jackets and carrying handcuffs and body-worn cameras, the group interrupted an inquest and demanded to see Senior Coroner Lincoln Brookes, accusing him of "interfering with the dead."[3]
Fortunately, Brookes was absent due to a personal matter. The group instead confronted other court staff, issuing threats and claiming knowledge of their personal addresses.[4]
Legal Proceedings
[edit]Following their arrest, the four individuals were charged with conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to commit false imprisonment. Christopher also faced a charge of sending malicious communications.[5]
The trial, held at Chelmsford Crown Court and presided over by Justice James Goss, revealed the group's intention to impose their own pseudo-legal authority. The court found all defendants guilty in July 2024.[1]
Sentencing
[edit]In October 2024, sentencing was as follows:
- Mark Kishon Christopher: Seven years' imprisonment.
- Sean Harper: 30 months' imprisonment.
- Shiza Harper: 30 months' imprisonment.
- Matthew Dean Martin: 30 months' imprisonment.
Justice Goss described Christopher as "intelligent, persuasive, manipulative, and dishonest," and highlighted the trauma inflicted on the victims, including Senior Coroner Brookes and Area Coroner Michelle Brown.[3]
Impact
[edit]The incident caused significant psychological distress to the victims. Senior Coroner Brookes reported suffering from flashbacks, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, while Area Coroner Michelle Brown expressed ongoing fear and insecurity.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "'Cult' members guilty of trying to kidnap coroner". BBC News. 30 July 2024.
- ^ Rose, Neil (2024-07-30). "Four guilty of coroner kidnap plot based on pseudo-legal ideas". Legal Futures. Retrieved 2024-12-27.
- ^ a b "Attempted kidnapping of senior coroner: Sentencing remarks" (PDF). Judiciary.uk. October 2024.
- ^ a b "Essex coroner kidnap attempt: Police details". Essex Police. October 2024.
- ^ "Leader of Essex coroner kidnap plot jailed for seven years". Legal Futures. October 2024.