The publishers of GQ magazine were in contempt of court when they published an article on the News of the World hacking trial, the high court has ruled.
Lord Thomas, the Lord Chief Justice said the article created a substantial risk that the trial of Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson and others “would be seriously impeded or prejudiced”, in AG v Conde Naste Publications Ltd [2015] EWHC 3322 (Admin).
Brooks was cleared of all charges. Coulson was convicted of conspiracy to hack phones and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC MP, said: “The Lord Chief Justice ruled that GQ magazine were in contempt over an article they had published during the phone hacking trial.
“The High Court ruled that the article, which was published at a particularly sensitive time, created a substantial risk of seriously prejudicing the trial of several defendants, including Rebekah Brooks and Andrew Coulson. While it is rare to bring proceedings against publishers, the GQ article went against the most fundamental principle of our criminal justice system; namely that everyone is entitled to a fair trial and it is not for the press to decide who is deserving of this protection.”
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