By Terence Dooley
Former British light-middleweight champion Anthony Small has been cleared after facing accusations that he attempted to travel to Syria to link up with IS (Islamic State).
The jury deliberated for almost 50 hours before finding Small not guilty of preparing terrorists acts.
Michael Coe and Simon Keeler, Small’s co-defendants, were also cleared of any wrongdoing, but they admitted to possessing false documents and will be sentenced for that at some point.
All three men argued that they needed the documents to visit relatives in Turkey and Denmark. Small said he had to visit his ex-wife to discuss some family business, Coe wanted to go to Sweden to see his wife and Keeler also wanted to go to Turkey.
Coe and Keeler were arrested in Dover in November, they were found in a lorry with the false papers. Small was later arrested at his sister’s home. It is alleged that a broken hand prevented him from making the trip to Dover.
Small was also found not guilty of disseminating terrorist publications and supporting a banned group following the trial at the Old Bailey in London.
The former fighter turned to religion during his boxing career and has courted controversy by airing strong views about Islam and the U.K. It is alleged that he sold boxing memorabilia to help fund a trip to Syria, but he strenuously denied these claims during his trial.
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