Cases

ex parte Coventry Newspapers Ltd

Facts

Two policemen sued the Coventry Evening Telegraph (CET) for libel in an article reviewing the history of the West Midlands Serious Crime Squad. They claimed they were identifiable as two officers referred to, but not named, as having tampered with evidence to prevent revelation that a Mr Brommell had been "fitted up" by the creation of a false "confession". The officers had already recovered damages from others over such allegations. The CET was unable to justify. In the wake of a Police Complaints Authority (PCA) investigation of his case, Brommell's conviction was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Home Secretary. The Court ordered disclosure of documents by the PCA and, relying on these, Brommell claimed his conviction was unsafe. Brommell's appeal was upheld and CET applied to the Court of Appeal for access to the documents used by Brommell. The PCA opposed the application, relying on public interest immunity (PII).

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