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'Pieman' Protester: Why I Attacked Murdoch

A protester accused of throwing a paper plate of foam at Rupert Murdoch has told Sky News he did it because he wanted to see justice done.

Jonathan May-Bowles, who also goes by the name Jonnie Marbles, was bailed to appear before City of Westminister Magistrates Court on Friday.

Mr Murdoch's wife Wendi Deng and his son James immediately jumped to his defence during a sitting of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee.

Ms Deng, who had been sitting behind her husband as he gave his evidence to the committee, leapt up and pushed the assailant away.

She then smacked the plate over the demonstrator as he was led away by police.

Explaining his actions, May-Bowles said: "Beyond the fact that this was not a UK Unncut action, I guess I did it because I had no faith in the Parliamentary process and I wanted to see some kind of justice done."

Members of the audience described how the protester carried out the attack saying: "You naughty billionaire."

According to reports he had been seen dozing in the Wilson Room in Portcullis House as the Murdochs answered questions.

Witnesses in the room have described how May-Bowles barely reacted when five other protesters unfurled posters earlier in the hearing.

Audience member Jeff Read, 43, said: "Everyone in the room seemed stunned.

"The police really seemed stunned - there was no one on Murdoch's side of the room.

"Murdoch's wife got up and took the plate, and smacked the guy who did it as hard as she could.

"I suppose the assailant was really shocked by that."

The hearing was suspended as May-Bowles was detained by police.

His membership of the Labour Party was suspended after the incident.

As he was taken out away in handcuffs, he said: "As Mr Murdoch himself said, I'm afraid I cannot comment on an ongoing police investigation."

Describing himself as an activist and comedian, he wrote on Twitter just before the incident: "It is a far better thing that I do now than I have ever done before #splat."

When the hearing resumed 10 minutes later, Labour MP Tom Watson, a vociferous critic of News International, concluded his questioning by telling Mr Murdoch: "Your wife has a very good left hook."

The start of the hearing in the Wilson Room of Portcullis House was also briefly disrupted as protesters were removed.