The Defense is Banking on a Win Due to This Previous Ruling in Phone Hacking Cases
Day 2 trial highlights and analysis
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Trial day two kicked off in London on Tuesday, Jan. 20th, and ended way earlier than anticipated. Prince Harry and Elizabeth Hurley were among the plaintiffs in attendance to listen to the claimants’ statements as laid out by Barrister David Sherborne.
Highlights from Day Two
Lawyers for the defense wrapped up a day and a half of scheduled opening statements in under 2 hours.
Antony White KC, lawyer for the defense, said he didn’t intend to respond to every article laid out by Sherborne, deciding instead to allow the detailed analysis presented in documents to the court to speak for themselves.
Note: This case will be decided by one Justice, not a jury.
Since the defense was scheduled for a day and a half of opening statements, this forces Prince Harry’s testimony for tomorrow, Jan. 21st, instead of the previously scheduled Jan. 22nd. This appears to be a move to throw Prince Harry and his team, while limiting the amount of time dedicated to discussing allegations of phone hacking involving some journalists and editors who still work for ANL.
Sherborne also wrapped up his opening statements.
After highlighting individual claims, Sherborne zoomed out and focused on an alleged culture of phone hacking writ large at ANL. According to Sherborne, this was the widely accepted modus operandi (we’ll get into more of that in the analysis portion).
Prince Harry’s claims focused on articles from 2001 to 2013.
A 2001 piece, when Prince Harry was chosen as a godparent by his former nanny, Tiggy-Legge Bourke’s child, by Katie Nicholl. Another Nicholl piece from 2010 contained “specific and intimate details” of Harry’s relationship with Chelsy Davy. In both instances, Sherborne argued that the information was a result of PIs.
A 2004 piece revealing travel plans for Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy, including the fact that Harry brought her on a private hunting expedition in Argentina. A familiar name, Caroline Graham, appeared in this claim. An email was shown in court from Graham to her desk editor, David Dillon, writing: "Harry is paranoid about her being outed.” (kinda sounds like there’s a good reason for the paranoia!)
A 2007 piece by Rebecca English (Royal Editor for The Daily Mail/Domestic Royal Rota Captain) also related to travel plans for Chelsy Davy. Sherborne accused the Royal Rota Captain of paying £200 to a PI for info, including Davy’s seat number.
Spotlight: An Earlier Ruiling That The Mail is Banking On
I want to flag something I think is critical that the defense said this afternoon.
