Noel Clark’s Honorary Lib Loss Opposes Guardian The newspaper concludes today at the London High Court, with a closing statement from a lawyer representing the parties.
Clark’s representative, Philip Williams, told the court in a closing statement as his client was “scapegoats,” a “easy target,” and was at the height of success when the media industry “eagerly tried to fix itself” following the #MeToo movement.
GNM’s Gavin Millar KC said it was “not a fragment of evidence” in support of Clarke’s conspiracy claims, describing it as “a pointless, rather hopeless speculation.”
He added that Clark has “a very clear motivation to lie.”
Clark sued GuardianMore than seven articles and one podcast, the publisher Guardian News and Media (GNM) includes articles that say 20 women Clark was known professionally and proceeded with sexual misconduct allegations.
Judge Steyn’s previous trial began on Friday, March 7th and ended today five weeks later. Written decisions are expected at a later date.
Closing Statement
Williams said that GNM witnesses had “revenge” on Clark and “weapon” his complaints against him.
“A handful of people have been planning and implementing it since 2019, bringing the downfall of Clark based on in vitriolic hatred, expert jealousy, classical sn-fuss and racialized prejudice,” Williams said in a written submission.
He also criticized Guardian“The paper says it “evidently failed to properly do the job.” Specifically, reporters said they failed to investigate related leads, not verifying some claims and allowed them to “contaminate” the source’s information by removing key questions and chat messages related to Libel’s trial.
Williams asks the court to make his argument successful; GuardianThe report has caused serious harm to Clark’s career by “continuing hostile responses in online and public discourse.”
Conversely, Miller described the GNM witness as “careful, considered and truthful.” And noted that the evidence of many Clark witnesses should not be given much weight as it has no direct knowledge of the allegations.
In a written submission, Miller said that Clark “used his strength to prey on and harass female colleagues” for 15 years.
Miller told the court that Clark also bullied people, engaged in sexually inappropriate behaviour and comments, had unnecessary kisses, touched or groped, took and shared express photos and videos without consent, and engaged in professional misconduct.
“The substantial truth about each of these elements is easily created by the evidence we heard at this trial,” Miller said. “It’s true that the courts don’t need to accept even the majority of the evidence that a defence of truth will take place.”
He asked the court to dismiss Clark’s claim and to find it. GuardianIt reports both as truth and in the public interest.
“This was a careful and thorough investigation conducted in good faith by a guardian journalist who was aware of the potential pitfalls,” Miller said.
“They received information from a wide range of sources with direct evidence of fraud, and in each case they chose to carefully consider and test the information given, only publishing information they believe to be reliable.”
Over the course of five weeks of the trial, the court heard from his witnesses, including Clark and his wife and actress Louise Dylan. And he supports it from over 30 witnesses Guardian26 people who say they are victims or witnesses of serious misconduct by Clark, or 26 who can support allegations against him.
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