The trial of the man accused of distributing a video of a burning Grenfell Tower effigy is underway.
Landlord Paul Bussetti, 46, appeared before Chief Magistrate and Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot at Westminster Magistrates' Court earlier today.
Bussetti, of South Norwood, denies two counts of sending/causing to be sent grossly offensive material via a public communications network, contrary to section 127(1)(a) and (3) of the Communications Act 2003.
In accordance with section (3) of the Act the maximum penalty for this offence is 6 month's imprisonment and/or a fine at level 5 (unlimited).
Bussetti admits recording the 3 minute video clip, but his legal team disputes that it was "grossly offensive" to share it on two private WhatsApp groups.
Mark Summers QC, defending, told the court that his client never intended for the footage to appear on YouTube and was not responsible for uploading it there.
The video depicted a four foot tall cardboard mock up of the Grenfell Tower, complete with victims waving for help at the windows, being lowered onto a bonfire and set alight.
A group of people could be heard laughing and joking in the background as flames took hold of the model.
The footage was branded "revolting" by the aunt of 12-year-old Jessica Urbano Ramirez, who died in the fire.
In a statement read to the court, Sandra Ruiz said: "The video made a mockery of her death. To see people making a mockery of that is vile."
A total of 72 people died in the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017.
The trial continues.
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