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Anti-cuts university tutor begins libel action against Mail and Standard Anti-cuts university tutor begins libel action against Mail and Standard
(39 minutes later)
A university tutor described by the Daily Mail and London Evening Standard of having a key role in violent anti-cuts protests in London has begun a landmark libel action against the two newspapers.A university tutor described by the Daily Mail and London Evening Standard of having a key role in violent anti-cuts protests in London has begun a landmark libel action against the two newspapers.
Luke Cooper, an associate tutor at Sussex University, claims he was grossly libelled by articles in the Evening Standard and Daily Mail that portrayed him as a ringleader in violence in Millbank, central London, nearly two years ago.Luke Cooper, an associate tutor at Sussex University, claims he was grossly libelled by articles in the Evening Standard and Daily Mail that portrayed him as a ringleader in violence in Millbank, central London, nearly two years ago.
His case is the first libel trial to be heard before a jury at the high court for three years and is expected to be one of the last.His case is the first libel trial to be heard before a jury at the high court for three years and is expected to be one of the last.
The publisher of the Evening Standard, Evening Standard Ltd, and Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail, are contesting the claim.The publisher of the Evening Standard, Evening Standard Ltd, and Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail, are contesting the claim.
Cooper was one of the protesters in Westminster on 10 November 2010, when a march through Millbank turned violent and some demonstrators stormed the Conservative party headquarters.Cooper was one of the protesters in Westminster on 10 November 2010, when a march through Millbank turned violent and some demonstrators stormed the Conservative party headquarters.
He took legal action against the two newspapers after the Evening Standard pictured him on the front page as an alleged "ringleader" in the attack on Tory party HQ. The Daily Mail followed up on the article the next day.He took legal action against the two newspapers after the Evening Standard pictured him on the front page as an alleged "ringleader" in the attack on Tory party HQ. The Daily Mail followed up on the article the next day.
Cooper denies having any role in the planning or carrying out of the attack.Cooper denies having any role in the planning or carrying out of the attack.
William McCormick, for Cooper, told the high court on Monday the case could turn on an Evening Standard journalist's recollection of his interview with Cooper at the protest. William McCormick, for Cooper, told Mr Justice Eady at the high court on Monday the case could turn on an Evening Standard journalist's recollection of his interview with Cooper at the protest.
Cooper was quoted by the paper as admitting that he helped plan and orchestrate the attacks on Millbank, which he denies saying. Cooper was quoted by the journalist, Benedict Moore-Bridger, as admitting he helped plan and orchestrate the attacks on Millbank, which he denies saying.
The court heard Cooper was subject to disciplinary proceedings by Sussex University following the newspaper articles and received several abusive email messages.The court heard Cooper was subject to disciplinary proceedings by Sussex University following the newspaper articles and received several abusive email messages.
"The reputation of Mr Cooper has effectively been as trashed as the Conservative party HQ was on that day," McCormick said. "Luke Cooper's reputation has effectively been as badly trashed as Millbank Tower on 10 November 2010," McCormick said.
"We say that these articles mean quite clearly that Mr Cooper was a ringleader ... Mr Cooper says this is simply not true. He had no part in the planning of that event therefore they [the Daily Mail and Evening Standard] have grossly libelled him.""We say that these articles mean quite clearly that Mr Cooper was a ringleader ... Mr Cooper says this is simply not true. He had no part in the planning of that event therefore they [the Daily Mail and Evening Standard] have grossly libelled him."
Cooper told how he was "shocked and angry" when he first saw the Evening Standard front page.
"I could not believe he [the journalist] had put this kind of spin on the article," he said during witness evidence. "I was obviously extremely worried about what it meant for my future."
Under cross-examination from Adrienne Page QC, for the two newspapers, Cooper said the first he heard of unrest at Millbank was rumours from protestors at Parliament Square.
Cooper gave the interview to Moore-Bridger amid an "atmosphere of violence and tension" outside Millbank, Page told the court.
She added: "What you are effectively saying to him is we planned 'this', and 'this' is [the attack on] Millbank."
Jurors at the five-day trial must find the articles are capable of meaning that Cooper was a ringleader in the violent action and his reputation has been damaged as a result.Jurors at the five-day trial must find the articles are capable of meaning that Cooper was a ringleader in the violent action and his reputation has been damaged as a result.
They were told they could go down as a footnote in legal history as it could be the last libel trial heard before a jury. McCormick described libel trials before a jury as an "endangered species" and said the most recent one was three years ago.They were told they could go down as a footnote in legal history as it could be the last libel trial heard before a jury. McCormick described libel trials before a jury as an "endangered species" and said the most recent one was three years ago.
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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