Depp II v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor

Depp II v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor

The Court of Appeal refused permission to appeal and to adduce further evidence, holding that the trial judge's findings were based on a thorough and detailed assessment of the evidence, including contemporaneous materials and admissions, and that no error of law or approach was demonstrated. The proposed fresh evidence regarding charitable donations would not have affected the outcome, as the judge's findings did not turn on general assessments of credibility but on the specific evidence relating to each incident.

Parties
Appellant: John Christopher Depp II; Respondent: News Group Newspapers Ltd; Respondent: Dan Wootton
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
25 March 2021
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal / Application for Permission to Appeal and to Adduce Further Evidence
Outcome
permission to appeal refused; application to adduce further evidence refused
Legal Topics
Libel, Appeals, Admission of Fresh Evidence, Assessment of Witness Credibility
Defamation Media Law Libel Appeals Admission of Fresh Evidence Assessment of Witness Credibility

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

John Christopher Depp II

Appellant

News Group Newspapers Ltd

Respondent

Dan Wootton

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal / Application for Permission to Appeal and to Adduce Further Evidence

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the trial judge erred in his approach to fact-finding and assessment of credibility in a libel claim
  2. 2 Whether permission should be granted to adduce further evidence post-trial regarding the respondent's credibility
  3. 3 Whether the trial judge's findings were vitiated by any error of law or approach

Ratio Decidendi

The Court of Appeal refused permission to appeal and to adduce further evidence, holding that the trial judge's findings were based on a thorough and detailed assessment of the evidence, including contemporaneous materials and admissions, and that no error of law or approach was demonstrated. The proposed fresh evidence regarding charitable donations would not have affected the outcome, as the judge's findings did not turn on general assessments of credibility but on the specific evidence relating to each incident.

Court Disposition

permission to appeal refused; application to adduce further evidence refused