London
CNN
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Prince Harry’s years-long legal battle against Rupert Murdoch’s British newspaper group took an unexpected turn on Wednesday, when the Duke pleaded guilty to allegations of illegal information gathering shortly before the start of the trial. Settled his case.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, called the settlement “a monumental victory”. He sued News Group Newspapers (NGN) – the publisher of the British tabloids The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World – claiming that journalists and private investigators working for the publications in 1996 and Between 2011 and 2011, he and his family were targeted.
The Duke’s barrister, David Sherborne, told London’s High Court on Wednesday that NGN “asks the Duke of Sussex for a full and unequivocal apology for the serious intrusion into his private life by The Sun between 1996 and 2011. including incidents of illegal activity by private investigators working for The Sun.
Reading the full statement on behalf of the defendant, Sherborne said NGN apologized to Shahi for the “phone hacking, surveillance and misuse of private information by journalists and private investigators he directed at the News of the World.” Also offered.”
NGN also apologized for the impact of the intrusion into the private life of her late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
NGN said it acknowledged the “hurt caused to the Duke” as well as the “damage to relationships, friendships and family” and “agreed to pay him substantial damages.”
Reports have emerged that Prince Harry and Watson’s legal action settlement included an eight-figure sum, which will likely include legal costs as well as damages. A source involved in the case did not deny the figures when asked by CNN.
The proceedings at London’s High Court were due to start on Tuesday morning but were repeatedly postponed following requests from lawyers on both sides. A spokeswoman for Duke’s legal team previously said that ahead of the trial, which is expected to last eight to 10 weeks, the tabloid group has settled 1,300 other claims related to voicemail interception out of court.
The phone-hacking scandal has cost the Murdoch media empire more than £1 billion ($1.24 billion). 2021 investigation Found by industry publication Press Gazette.
Sherborne read a statement on Wednesday from the Duke and fellow contender Tom Watson, a former lawmaker and former deputy leader of the Labor Party, saying: “In a monumental victory today, News UK has admitted that The Sun, Rupert is the flagship title for Murdoch’s UK media empire, engaged in truly illegal practices.
Speaking outside court, Sherborne said the verdict represented “a vindication for the hundreds of other claimants who were strong-armed and never got to the bottom of what was done to them.” ”
The lawyer continued: “After endless resistance, denials and legal battles by the Newsgroup newspapers, including spending more than a billion pounds in payouts and legal costs, as well as paying off acquaintances to prevent the full picture from coming out Finally, News UK is being held accountable for its illegal actions and blatant disregard for the law.
Harry’s co-plaintiff, Watson, who also settled, had alleged that the tabloids engaged in illegal information gathering and phone hacking between 2009 and 2011.
Watson previously said he was targeted when he was investigating Murdoch newspapers during a high-profile phone-hacking scandal, which led to the closure of the News of the World in 2011 and Murdoch’s involvement in phone-hacking. was forced to apologize for
Harry’s barrister also told the court that NGN apologized to co-claimant Watson for “unwarranted intrusion into her private life during her reign of News of the World from 2009-2011”.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
