Ashley Cole uses Internet to find libel witnesses

Posted by Martin Stabe on 9 March 2006 at 11:58
Tags: Journalism, Libel, News of the World, Photography, Privacy, Sport, Sun, copyright

Lawyers for footballer Ashley Cole are turning to the Internet to find potential witnesses for his libel case against News of the World or Sun.

In February, the NoW claimed two footballers and a “pal in the music industry” had been involved in a “homosexual orgy” involving a mobile phone. The paper later ran a heavily-pixelated image of two men along with further insinuations.

Pink News, the web site which appears to have prompted the case by publishing the original and unobsured image showing Cole and Ian Thompson, also known as DJ Masterstepz, carries an advert linking to the online survey, which is being run by law firm Teacher Stern Selby.

As we reported earlier this week, Thompson will also be suing the tabloids. In a new twist to the case we report in Press Gazette today, the Thompson is also considering an action for breach of copyright because the picture belonged to him.

Tags: Journalism, Libel, News of the World, Photography, Privacy, Sport, Sun, copyright