Attorney General v Associated Newspapers Ltd & Anor
The defendants published material that was not before the jury and highly prejudicial, creating a substantial risk of serious prejudice and breaching the strict liability rule, thus constituting contempt of court.
- Parties
- Claimant: Her Majesty’s Attorney General; First Defendant: Associated Newspapers Limited; Second Defendant: MGN Limited
- Jurisdiction
- England and Wales
- Judgment Date
- 16 October 2012
- Procedural Posture
- Contempt of Court / Judgment and Sentencing
- Outcome
- Defendants found in contempt of court and fined
- Legal Topics
- Contempt of Court, Strict Liability Rule, Freedom of Expression, Inequality of Treatment, Penalty Assessment
Case Brief
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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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 / Judgment and Sentencing
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the defendants breached the strict liability rule by publishing prejudicial articles before all verdicts were returned
- 2 Whether the publications created a substantial risk of serious prejudice to the trial
- 3 Appropriate penalty for contempt
Ratio Decidendi
The defendants published material that was not before the jury and highly prejudicial, creating a substantial risk of serious prejudice and breaching the strict liability rule, thus constituting contempt of court.
Court Disposition
Defendants found in contempt of court and fined
Orders
- Each defendant fined £10,000
- Each defendant to contribute £25,000 to Attorney General's costs
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