Press Release - Christopher Jefferies

The following statement was issued today by Simons Muirhead & Burton and Stokoe Partnership Solicitors for Christopher Jefferies

"Eight national newspapers today made apologies to Christopher Jefferies for the defamatory allegations made against him in relation to the death of Joanna Yeates and agreed to pay him substantial libel damages.

Mr Jefferies' solicitor, Louis Charalambous, Media Litigation Partner at Simons Muirhead & Burton, told Mr Justice Tugendhat in the High Court hearing that the newspapers had acknowledged the falsity of the allegations in question which were contained in over 40 articles published in late December  2010 and early January 2011 and apologised to him for their seriously defamatory articles.

Speaking afterwards Mr Charalambous of Simons Muirhead and Burton, said:

"Christopher Jefferies is the latest victim of the regular witch hunts and character assassination conducted by the worst elements of the British tabloid media.  Many of the stories published in these newspapers are designed to "monster" the individual, in flagrant disregard for his reputation, privacy and rights to a fair trial.  These newspapers have now apologised to him and paid substantial damages but they do so knowing that once the Conditional Fee Agreement rules are changed next year victims of tabloid witch hunts will no longer have the same access to justice."

Bambos Tsiattalou, Senior Partner at Stokoe Partnership conducting his wrongful arrest claim and who advised Mr Jefferies following arrest, said:

"We warned the media by letter, immediately following Mr Jefferies' arrest, in the strongest possible terms to desist from publishing stories which were damaging or defamatory. We were dismayed that our warnings went unheeded and are pleased that the newspapers in settling Mr Jefferies' claims have acknowledged the extent of the damage to his reputation."

Notes to Editors

1. Simons Muirhead & Burton act for Mr Jefferies in his libel and privacy claims on behalf of Mr Jefferies against The Sun, Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record, Daily Mail, Daily Star, The Scotsman and Daily Express.
2. Stokoe Partnership represented Mr Jefferies whilst he was detained by police and subsequently until he was released from bail with no further action. They continue to act in his claim against Avon & Somerset Police for false imprisonment, trespass and breach of the Human Rights Act 1998.