Hijazi v Yaxley-Lennon [2020] EWHC 934 (QB) (21 April 2020)

Hijazi v Yaxley-Lennon [2020] EWHC 934 (QB) (21 April 2020)

The First Video means the Claimant had, as part of a gang, participated in a violent assault on a young girl causing significant injuries and threatened to stab another child. The Second Video means the Claimant had, as part of a gang, participated in a violent assault on a young girl causing significant injuries. The wider meanings advanced by the Claimant and the narrower meaning advanced by the Defendant are rejected.

Citation
[2020] EWHC 934
Parties
Claimant: Jamal Hijazi; Litigation Friend: Abdulnaser Yousef; Defendant: Stephen Yaxley-Lennon
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
21 April 2020
Procedural Posture
Libel / Preliminary Issue Trial on Meaning
Outcome
Determination of meaning as preliminary issue; no final judgment on liability or truth.
Legal Topics
Libel, Meaning Determination, Social Media Publication
Defamation Media Law Libel Meaning Determination Social Media Publication

Case Brief

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Parties

Jamal Hijazi

Claimant

Abdulnaser Yousef

Litigation Friend

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Libel / Preliminary Issue Trial on Meaning

Legal Issues

  1. 1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the two Facebook videos published by the Defendant about the Claimant?
  2. 2 Does the context of publication affect the meaning attributed to the videos?

Ratio Decidendi

The First Video means the Claimant had, as part of a gang, participated in a violent assault on a young girl causing significant injuries and threatened to stab another child. The Second Video means the Claimant had, as part of a gang, participated in a violent assault on a young girl causing significant injuries. The wider meanings advanced by the Claimant and the narrower meaning advanced by the Defendant are rejected.

Court Disposition

Determination of meaning as preliminary issue; no final judgment on liability or truth.

Orders

  • The natural and ordinary meaning of the First Video is: The Claimant had, as part of a gang, participated in a violent assault on a young girl causing significant injuries and threatened to stab another child.
  • The natural and ordinary meaning of the Second Video is: The Claimant had, as part of a gang, participated in a violent assault on a young girl causing significant injuries.