Video of the suspected felling instance of the Sycamore Gap tree exhibited to jury during trial of two suspects
Famous Sycamore Gap Tree Felling Trial Underway
In Newcastle Crown Court, the trial of Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, is currently underway, as they each deny two counts of criminal damage to the Sycamore Gap tree and Hadrian's Wall.
This iconic tree, a "totemic" landmark loved by thousands, met a tragic fate, with footage showing its felling allegedly due to the defendants' actions. The video, recovered from Graham's phone, was played to the court twice – once in its raw form and another after being enhanced by police experts.
Police analyst Amy Sutherland testified that the video was stored in the download section of Graham's phone, retrieved from his jacket pocket. In the enhanced black and white version, with audio of wind blowing and a chainsaw buzzing, a figure can be seen working at the trunk of the tree before it crashes to the ground.
The prosecution alleges the two friends traveled to the location during the pitch-black Storm Agnes and used a chainsaw to fell the sycamore tree, which then crashed onto Hadrian's Wall. The damage caused to the tree and the Unesco World Heritage site was valued at £622,191 and £1,144 respectively.
Messages between the two defendants were presented as evidence. Graham sent Carruthers a message saying, "Not a bad angle on that stump," adding, "That's clearly a professional." Meanwhile, Carruthers replied with a voicenote saying, "I'd like to see [him] launch an operation like we did last night... I don't think he's got the minerals."
As the trial progresses, the full extent of the defendants' actions and their impact on the cherished Northumberland landmark will come to light. Stay tuned for updates.
Background Information:
- The Sycamore Gap tree has been a popular icon in Northumberland since the 1980s, often featured in media.
- It serves as a scenic spot for marriage proposals, family visits, and even places for ashes to be scattered.
Message from the Future (May 1, 2025):
As of the latest available information, the trial of Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers is still ongoing. Despite the compelling evidence presented, the trial has not yet concluded, and no verdict has been reported as of May 1, 2025.
- The trial of Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, accused of damaging the Sycamore Gap tree and Hadrian's Wall, is ongoing at Newcastle Crown Court in 2023.
- Footage recovered from Graham's phone showed the alleged felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, a cherished Northumberland landmark, during a storm in 2023.
- In the future, politics and general news channels, such as ITV, are expected to cover updates on the trial, as the case involves crime and justice matters.
- The defendants' actions have had a significant impact on the Sycamore Gap tree, a popular icon in Northumberland since the 1980s, and the Unesco World Heritage site, Hadrian's Wall. The damages are currently valued at £622,191 and £1,144 respectively.
