The Times today stated in its Corrections & Clarifications column that the allegation made in an article published in April 2017 (and until recently on The Times website) that the barrister Barbara Hewson had made death threats to a student was not true.
The trial had been due to commence on Monday 7 December 2020 but settled shortly beforehand. The sole defence had been that of public interest further to s.4 of the Defamation Act 2013. The Times has also agreed to pay Ms Hewson damages for libel and not to repeat the allegation.
The meaning of the article was determined as one which amounted to an allegation of actual guilt, a Chase Level One meaning, by Mr Justice Nicklin on 22 March 2019.
On 27 October 2020 Mr Justice Nicklin ordered The Times to serve further information following an application made by the Claimant under CPR 18.
Similar allegations were also published by the MailOnline but a settlement in regard to that claim, which included the publication of an apology, was reached in May 2019.
5RB’s William Bennett QC was instructed on behalf of Ms Hewson by Max Campbell and Elisabth Mason of Brett Wilson LLP.
