Economou v David De Freitas (Rev 1) [2016] EWHC 1853 (QB) (27 July 2016)

Economou v David De Freitas (Rev 1) [2016] EWHC 1853 (QB) (27 July 2016)

The court held that the claimant was identified in the publications and that the words complained of conveyed a defamatory meaning, namely that there were reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant was guilty of rape. However, the defendant succeeded in establishing the public interest defence under section 4 of the Defamation Act 2013, as the publications were on matters of public interest and the defendant reasonably believed publication was in the public interest. Accordingly, the claim was dismissed.

Citation
[2016] EWHC 1853 (QB)
Parties
Claimant: Alexander Economou; Defendant: David de Freitas
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
27 July 2016
Procedural Posture
Libel/defamation / High Court Trial Judgment
Outcome
Claim dismissed
Legal Topics
Libel, Serious Harm, Public Interest Defence, Identification, Responsibility for Publication
Defamation Media Law Tort Libel Serious Harm Public Interest Defence Identification Responsibility for Publication

Case Brief

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Parties

Alexander Economou

Claimant

David de Freitas

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel/defamation / High Court Trial Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the claimant was identified in the publications
  2. 2 Whether the defendant was responsible for the publications
  3. 3 What defamatory meaning was conveyed

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that the claimant was identified in the publications and that the words complained of conveyed a defamatory meaning, namely that there were reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant was guilty of rape. However, the defendant succeeded in establishing the public interest defence under section 4 of the Defamation Act 2013, as the publications were on matters of public interest and the defendant reasonably believed publication was in the public interest. Accordingly, the claim was dismissed.

Court Disposition

Claim dismissed

Orders

  • Claimant's claim for libel is dismissed
  • No damages awarded to the claimant