Prince Harry case against Sun publisher delayed
The opening day of Prince Harry’s damages battle against the owners of The Sun newspaper has been delayed as it emerged the two sides are involved in potential settlement talks after years of legal warfare.
The Duke’s lawyers were due to begin an eight-week trial on Tuesday over his allegations that journalists from News Group newspapers used illegal techniques to peek into his private life – and that executives allegedly covered it up.
Before he could begin presenting his case, he asked for an adjournment.
However, after hours of secret discussions, and no sign of a final agreement that would change the nature of the trial, the judge demanded that both sides start over – prompting both to ask the Court of Appeals to overturn that order. Will ask for.
The practical effect of his objection is that the case has been delayed until at least 10am on Wednesday – meaning both sides have more time to negotiate.
It is not clear what was raised in the 11th hour talks.
Prince Harry has repeatedly said that he wants a trial so that he can “hold accountability” for other alleged victims of unlawful news gathering of private information by NGN journalists.
NGN has denied that there was any wrongdoing at The Sun or that there was a cover-up by executives across the group.
The Rupert Murdoch-owned empire has long acknowledged that journalists used illegal techniques at the News of the World, which closed in 2011, but has always denied it was widespread.
This morning, lawyers for Prince Harry and the other remaining claimant, former Labor MP Lord Tom Watson, asked Mr Justice Fancourt to twice delay the opening of the case – meaning the court did not sit until 2pm.
Prince Harry’s barrister David Sherborne said there was potentially a “good chance” of a settlement that would save court time.
“We are very close, it is just a matter of getting the timing and instructions,” he said.
“It’s not the only factor.”
Anthony Hudson Casey for News Group Newspapers said the parties needed more time due to “time differences” and said both parties were involved in the “dynamics of the settlement”.
Mr Justice Fancourt – who has repeatedly criticized both sides for long delays and disputes over how the case should be prosecuted – refused to allow more time, saying that the case should start even if curtains were drawn. There may still be negotiations going on behind the scenes which may change the matter. Nature of test.
The judge said, “I am not persuaded that if there had been a genuine desire to settle this it would not have happened by today.”
Lawyers for the News Group newspapers then requested the court to sit in private – without the presence of the media – to hear more about what was going on.
The judge refused, saying he would not sit “in secret” – and then both Prince Harry’s team and NGN’s lawyers said they would ask senior judges to overturn the order.
