Thirty-two people are expected to give evidence in support of the Guardian's defense of a lawsuit brought against it by actor and producer Noel Clarke.
Details were revealed on Monday at a pre-trial review hearing at London's High Court ahead of a defamation and data protection trial due to begin in early March.
Mr Clarke, best known for his Kidal Hood film trilogy, was sued by the Guardian for defamation over articles published in 2021 and 2022, following an investigation that revealed multiple allegations of misconduct against him. I'm suing.
The first article includes complaints from 20 women, including allegations of unwanted touching and groping, sexually inappropriate behavior and comments on set, and sexually explicit photos and videos taken and shared without their consent. reported the allegations.
Subsequent articles reported that several more people came forward with similar claims.
In written submissions to Monday's hearing, Gavin Miller KC, representing the Guardian newspaper, described the case as “the most significant defamation case to come before the courts in recent years”. Ta.
The filing states that the Guardian will provide signed witness statements from 34 people, 32 of whom will give evidence to the Guardian at the trial, which is expected to last six weeks.
Six editorial staff, including senior editors, will give evidence that the allegations against Mr Clarke were the subject of sensitive reporting and were published in the public interest.
The remaining 26 people are all expected to testify that they were victims or witnesses of gross misconduct by Mr. Clark, or that they could “corroborate” the charges.
Referring to witnesses giving evidence relating to allegations of misconduct by Mr Clark against a total of 22 women, the Guardian's gist of the argument states: The aftermath. or in support of a claim advanced in defense of truth. ”
Mr. Clark denies any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing. He admitted that he once made inappropriate comments about a woman and later apologized.
He plans to go to trial to persuade the court that it should not accept the Guardian's truth or public interest defense.
Mr Clark said in November 2023: “I have always disputed the content of the eight Guardian articles.”
He says the article ruined his media career. Following the publication of the report, the British Academy suspended the Lifetime Achievement Award it had given Clarke the previous week, and ITV refused to broadcast the final episode of Viewpoint, a thriller in which Clarke starred.
Clark's defense team confirmed that he intends to call 15 witnesses for the trial, the filing states.
