In the meantime, if you look at the mainstream media's coverage of today's hearing, you'd think it only lasted two minutes. They reported that Diane is accused of posting a message on X (formerly known as Twitter) that suggested something dangerous was headed to the 300-year-old royal residence on a train. She appeared at Leeds Crown Court this morning but was not arraigned. Judge Simon Phillips KC stated that an assessment was necessary before she could enter a plea to the charge of communicating false information to the Metropolitan Police. It's noted that she’s from Church Lane, Pudsey, and she was not represented during the hearing. The judge advised her to seek legal representation for future court appearances. Once the psychiatric report is completed, depending on the outcome, she’ll be brought back to court to enter a plea. Her next appearance is set for December 16th, with a potential trial date scheduled for October of next year, expected to last around two days.
During a previous court appearance, she stated that she fully accepted writing the tweet and tagging the Metropolitan Police, saying, “I wrote it, I sent it, and I didn’t delete it until it was reported over a week later.” The incident allegedly occurred on May 17th, and she was arrested at her home after the Metropolitan Police informed West Yorkshire Police. If found guilty, she could face up to two years in prison. So, looking at what mainstream media is reporting, it’s understandable why one might think this hearing was over in a flash. But let me fill you in on all the details they missed in my pre-recorded video from outside Leeds Crown Court.
Charles Drinan was the prosecution counsel and appeared via video link. Diane Durham appeared in the dark and was unrepresented, once again choosing to represent herself. Initially, this was supposed to be a plea hearing where Diane would submit her plea, but that didn’t happen. Instead, a court officer was brought up to the bench first and recommended a psychiatric assessment to determine if Diane is fit to enter a plea and stand trial. The judge ultimately agreed with this recommendation.
A few key dates have been set for the future of this case, so let’s go through them. The first date is December 9, 2024, when, from my understanding, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will hand over their case to Diane or her legal representative, should she choose to appoint one. The next hearing will be on December 16, when the judge expects the psychiatric report to be available. At that point, he will assess whether Diane is fit to enter a plea and stand trial. If he determines that she is fit, I expect her to plead not guilty.
The subsequent hearing will take place on January 13, 2025, which marks the second stage of this process. This is when Diane or her legal representative will submit a defense statement. The third stage will occur on February 10, 2025, and will involve the CPS's response to her defense statement. The fourth stage will follow a month later, on March 10, 2025.
Now, you might be wondering when the actual trial will begin if the judge determines that Diane is fit to enter a plea and stand trial. Initially, the trial was scheduled for January 2026, but this has been revised. The trial is now set to commence on October 29, 2025, and it is expected to last two to three days. This will only proceed if the judge deems Diane fit enough to stand trial based on the outcome of the psychiatric report.
Diane has been released on bail, but there is one condition: she must provide a corresponding address for court proceedings. It seemed to me that the judge went above and beyond to assist Diane by advising her to seek legal representation. He even provided her with a list of seven reputable law firms based in Leeds known to the court. He printed out this list and handed it to her during the hearing. Additionally, he gave her a document outlining the court procedures from stage one through to stage four.
The judge confirmed that, at this moment, the case is being treated as a terrorism case, but he is considering possibly removing that classification after he receives the Crown Prosecution's arguments. He concluded the hearing by advising Diane to seriously consider obtaining legal representation. Diane expressed a desire for as few hearings as possible to resolve this quickly, but the judge stressed that having legal representation would help her expedite the process.
He directly asked her if she was considering appointing a lawyer, and she indicated that she was. The judge reassured her that all seven lawyers from the list he provided would take her case on legal aid, meaning she wouldn’t have to pay anything, as they would be compensated from the legal aid fund. If she had concerns about the financial aspects of hiring legal representation, the judge alleviated those worries by assuring her she wouldn’t incur legal costs.
So, with all that said, that’s a rundown of what transpired earlier today in Diane Durham’s hearing. The next important dates to remember are December 9, when the CPS is expected to hand over their case, and December 16, when the judge anticipates the psychiatric report will be ready. At that point, he will decide if Diane is fit to plead and continue with the court process.
Now, you might be thinking, “Wow, she got off easy without having to enter a plea, and they’re now doing a psychiatric report.” But the reality is that this is actually good news. The judge ordering this psychiatric evaluation shows he wants to ensure fairness in the proceedings and that Diane receives a fair trial, which is something we would all want if we were in her position.
So remember to stay tuned for December 16, as I’ll return to provide further updates on this case. If you don’t want to miss that or any of my future videos, please subscribe to join our Alter Tribe. I’m being honest here; let’s help us reach a million subscribers so we can get that coveted play button! Also, let’s hope for some juicy updates on the Meghan Markle situation on Instagram.
