Cases

Turcu v News Group Newspapers Ltd (No.2)

Held

Upholding the defence of justification as substantially if not wholly true, (1) The Claimant was willing to participate in criminal activities and to make a contribution, in particular, to the discussions about the proposed Beckham kidnap. (2) The Claimant's case that the Defence evidence amounted to 'idle pub banter' was unconvincing. The hoax explanation needed to be fully explained from the witness box and tested in cross-examination. There had not been a 'set up' on the part of the News of the World. (3) There was no 'gang' but a loose association of criminals who worked together when it suited them. The Claimant himself was found to be a petty criminal. (4) There were inaccuracies and sloppy reporting in that the kidnap plot was hardly an advanced plan, but these did disturb the fact that the Defendant had justified the 'core of the libel'. (5) The investigative journalist had not 'picked on asylum seekers' and this allegation was merely a flawed vehicle to aggravate damages.

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