Elphicke v Times Newspapers Ltd

Both articles bore a Chase level 2 meaning: there were reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant of rape, not that he was guilty of rape.

Parties: Claimant: Charles Elphicke MP; Defendant: Times Newspapers Ltd
Jurisdiction: England and Wales
Judgment Date: 20 December 2019
Procedural Posture: Civil / Preliminary Issue Determination
Outcome: Determination of preliminary issue: the articles mean there were reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant of rape.
Legal Topics: Libel, Misuse of Private Information, Natural and Ordinary Meaning, Chase Levels

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Charles Elphicke MP

Claimant

Times Newspapers Ltd

Defendant

Civil / Preliminary Issue Determination

1 What is the natural and ordinary meaning of the words complained of in the articles?
2 Do the articles allege guilt or reasonable grounds to suspect the Claimant of rape?

Both articles bore a Chase level 2 meaning: there were reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant of rape, not that he was guilty of rape.

Determination of preliminary issue: the articles mean there were reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant of rape.

The meaning of the words complained of in the article of 22nd April 2018 is that there were reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant was guilty of rape.
The meaning of the words complained of in the article of 29th April 2018 is that there were reasonable grounds to suspect the claimant was guilty of rape.