One of the defendants of the controversial Brighton Arms Factory case, acquitted by Judge Bathurst-Norman, has died aged 36.

Simon Levin, of Montpelier Street, Brighton, came from a Jewish family and had great grandparents who died in Auschwitz – which he said contributed towards his political activism.

He was one of seven Smash EDO activists who caused £180,000 worth of damage the EDO MBM factory in Brighton.

The seven were cleared after they successfully claimed they had acted to prevent Israeli "war crimes" when the broke into the arms factory on January 17, 2009. The factory in Brighton denied ever having supplied Israel with arms equipment.

Mr Levin's experience in the occupied Palestinian territories was used as evidence during the trial. He spent time working in the Balata refugee camp for Palestinians.

He also frequently demonstrated against Caterpillar and Agrexco.

An inquest was opened at Brighton's Coroner's Court and is expected to be heard in September.