HM Attorney General v Associated Newspapers Ltd & Anor

Both the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror, by publishing highly prejudicial material about Bellfield’s sexual offences and other alleged crimes not before the jury, created a substantial risk of serious prejudice to the ongoing trial, satisfying the strict liability rule under s.2(2) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981.

Parties: Claimant: Her Majesty’s Attorney General; First Defendant: Associated Newspapers Limited; Second Defendant: MGN Limited
Jurisdiction: England and Wales
Judgment Date: 18 July 2012
Procedural Posture: Contempt of Court Proceedings / Judgment After Trial
Outcome: Liability for contempt established; penalty to be determined after further submissions.
Legal Topics: Contempt of Court, Strict Liability Rule, Prejudicial Publication, Jury Discharge

Criminal Law Media Law Contempt of Court Strict Liability Rule Prejudicial Publication Jury Discharge

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Parties

Her Majesty’s Attorney General

Claimant

Associated Newspapers Limited

First Defendant

MGN Limited

Second Defendant

Procedural Posture

Contempt of Court Proceedings / Judgment After Trial

Legal Issues

1 Whether the publications in the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror created a substantial risk that the course of justice in the Bellfield trial would be seriously impeded or prejudiced under s.2(2) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981.

Ratio Decidendi

Court Disposition

Liability for contempt established; penalty to be determined after further submissions.