Harry's lawyer tells UK court Daily Mail complicit in unlawful acts

reuters ^ | Jan 19 | By Michael Holden and Sam Tobin

[RandFan]

LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Prince Harry, Elton John and other public figures were victims of systematic phone hacking and other unlawful acts by Britain's powerful Daily Mail, their lawyer said on Monday as the trial of their high-profile privacy case against the publisher began.

The British royal and six other claimants accuse the Mail's publisher Associated Newspapers of unlawful behaviour violating their privacy from 1993 until 2011 and beyond, in a civil case with high stakes for the claimants and media alike.

Harry, 41, who arrived smiling and waving, said in a witness statement quoted by lawyers that it was "disturbing to feel that my every move, thought or feeling was being tracked and monitored just for the Mail to make money out of it".

Associated, however, calls the allegations "preposterous smears", saying their journalists had legitimate sources for information, including celebrities' "leaky" social circles.

The publisher also alleges the litigation is part of a coordinated conspiracy by a wealthy group driven by personal animosity towards the media.

The nine-week trial will not just put reputations on the line, in a case with legal costs running to tens of millions of pounds, but could open up a new front in long-running litigation over the practices of the British press.

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
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[RandFan]

This is huge. I wonder if anyone is following it?

"Trial of the century"; legal bills topping tens of millions of dollars and reputations at stake.

The Daily Mail are not backing down or settling with these celebs and about how they got intimate details to publish certain stories.

Harry is even taking the stand later this week...

[lee martell]

It must be a Monday; Harry is outdoors playing the Victim once again. I thought this 15 year old ‘case’ was settled years ago. Harry remains full focused on The Past, not the present or future.

Let’s not forget how uncaring he can be.
Most recent example: Has Harry uttered on word of sympathy for his father-in-law Thomas Markle, age 81, who just had part of one leg amputated due to effects of a stroke?
No, of course you haven’t, b/c Harry simply doesn’t GAF about people who are not going to make him look good.
Plain and simple.

[dfwgator]

[pnz1]

Yet Harry has no problem invading the privacy of others.. especially his family.

[VanShuyten]

Harry and Merkin must be running low on cash since the royals cut him off.