UK Tabloids shamed over rush to judgement in architect murder case

[financeguy]

Joanna Yeates's landlord Chris Jefferies today accepted "substantial" undisclosed libel damages from eight newspapers over allegations made against him over her death.

The retired schoolmaster was not at London's High Court for the settlement of his actions against the publishers of the Sun, the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror, the Daily Mail, the Daily Record, the Daily Express, the Daily Star and the Scotsman.

His solicitor, Louis Charalambous, told Mr Justice Tugendhat that "in recognition of the immense distress and damage" caused, they had all agreed to apologise for the "seriously defamatory" allegations made in the wake of the landscape architect's December 2010 death and pay substantial damages.

Mr Charalambous told the judge Mr Jefferies had taught English at Clifton College for 34 years and was of good character.

Mr Charalambous said all the allegations were "entirely untrue".

In particular, the newspapers accepted that Mr Jefferies had nothing to do with Ms Yeates's death, that he helped the police as much as he could and there was no basis for suggesting he had ever acted inappropriately with any pupil during his long and distinguished career as a teacher.

Lawyers for the newspapers told the judge they very much regretted the distress caused and had agreed to pay Mr Jefferies substantial damages and his legal costs.

The offending articles were withdrawn from their websites when the complaint was received.

Landlord of dead architect wins libel damages from eight newspapers - Europe, World News - Independent.ie


Mr Murdoch and News International cannot be blamed for all the sins of the UK tabloids - most of these so-called newspapers are owned by other proprietors.