Duke of Sussex court case: key witness statement false

[bluegreygreen]

I looked for another thread on this but didn't see one.

The story is about the case Prince Harry (and 6 others) are bringing against the Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers) for phone hacking. Back in July the claimants were told to reveal any payments that were made to witnesses in exchange for evidence; this seems more serious.

From what I can gather the main witness (Gavin Burrows) in the case was employed by the claimants' team over a couple of years to help research into the phone hacking by different organisations and to track down relevant people. He says he was asked on several occasions if he had worked for the Daily Mail and always denied it, and the first he knew of the current case was when he heard in 2023 that Baroness Lawrence had brought it based on his evidence.

Apparently Burrows wrote a statement at that time (2023) denying the claims and has now written a more detailed statement also denying the claims.

The claimants now don't want to call him as a witness (unsurprisingly) but do want to rely on (some of) his evidence as 'hearsay evidence'.
They also don't want Associated Newspapers to be allowed to call him as a witness.

Telegraph archive link
https://archive.is/YAjNq

I haven't heard before of 'hearsay evidence' being used like this - does anyone know the rules? How can it be tested?

Agree - it's only just started and he's already wound up. Sounds like he's come into court in a bad mood.

It's going to be a long day or two in the witness box if he is snapping at the intro questions

Or bad hangover? I think he's pissed off that he is giving evidence a day early - less time to prepare

Agree - these are the easy questions

Less time to prepare? He’s had since 2022!

😂

Are they going to bring up falseness of his "not allowed to take action"? Charles has taken action numerous times as has William although they usually endeavour to settle without appearing in court - it seems Harry likes the court appearances....

God, he's so spoilt and petulant.

His witness statement has been given to the journalists so they are poring over it and will bring key details. The paragraphs they have shared for now -

"Following the death of my mother in 1997 when I was 12 years old and her treatment at the hands of the press, I have always had an uneasy relationship with them. However, as a member of the Institution the policy was to 'never complain, never explain'.
"There was no alternative; I was conditioned to accept it. For the most part, I accepted the interest in my performing my public functions.
"However, in late 2016, when my relationship with Meghan, my now wife, became public, I started to become increasingly troubled by the approach of not taking action against the press in the wake of vicious persistent attacks on, harassment of and intrusive, sometimes racist articles concerning Meghan."

He says this case is about holding "to account" the journalists, executives and editors he says have used unlawful information gathering against him.

Yeah but he was relying on people telling him what to say .....😂 Harry doesn't do his own homework

His witness statement has been released to journalists.
Obviously his mother is mentioned and the family mantra of ‘never complain never explain’.

claims he only became troubled about not taking action when he met and married Megan.
idiot!

I hope he does lose it and shows exactly who he is on the stand. He doesn't understand this is a court of law, no interest in what he thinks only what he can prove. They may well have acted unlawfully but the claimants have to prove it.
I am surprised at Elton John. I remember back in the 1980's when rent boys sold pics and stories of drug fuelled debauched parties at Elton's house. He said so what, it was no secret. I always admired how totally unfucking apologetic he was about it, he said they could have said a lot worse. Took all the wind out the story.

What happened to ‘Just call me Harry’? What a prick.

It was never true - he just thought it sounded good.

He is treating it as a public enquiry then? I hope his team focus on evidence rather than his emotions.

Thanks ladies for all this coverage!

2002 article about Harry's friendship with Natalie Pinkham
Harry denies Katie Nicholl got the story from Natalie Pinkham, despite accepting that she phoned and spoke to her directly
Says KN 'invented quotes'
Denies KN had any relationship with Natalie Pinkham, and says she got her number through 'unlawful information gathering (UIG)'

Is Natalie appearing as a witness then? Don't know how he can say that with confidence unless the court hears from Natalie directly.

I recall him suing them for printing that he used male prostitues and winning. That famous quote - " They can call me a fat old talentless p@@ f, but they mustn't lie."

It is going to be his answer to everything - any information that he didn't want released was gathered "unlawfully"

He keeps going on about Meghan but I didn't think he was suing for any articles relating to his time with her?

AW suggests Harry met Charlotte Griffiths (DM reporter) in Ibiza)
Harry says he was never in Ibiza until he went there with Meghan; met CG at house party; denies seeing CG socially after that and says his friends wouldn't have shared information with her

Was going to ask this. It’s as if he’s giving evidence on her behalf.

“hindsight it a wonderful thing mr White”
Prat!!

I usually refrain from commenting on him but he’s really boiling my blood today.

Presumably the Mail has evidence to the contrary?

Interesting that their barrister is a KC and Sherborne isn't!

White has just said “I put it to you that you had a good relationship which Rebecca English”.
this really tickled me for some reason, picturing all the TV court drama where this is often a pivotal moment and has the capacity to rile the defendant