Noel Clarke Faces Major Setback in Libel Battle Against The Guardian

Noel Clarke Faces Major Setback in Libel Battle Against The Guardian

Noel Clarke Faces Major Setback in Libel Battle Against The Guardian

Noel Clarke has just suffered a significant blow in his libel case against The Guardian , and it looks like his legal battle is heading for a full trial in March. The actor and filmmaker, best known for Kidulthood , had attempted to strike out The Guardian ’s defences of truth and public interest, but the judge dismissed his application, calling it “absolutely hopeless.”

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In court, Clarke’s legal team made serious allegations, claiming that The Guardian ’s journalists had deleted messages on the encrypted app Signal and even fabricated evidence to support their investigative reports. However, when pressed for proof, Clarke’s own barrister admitted they couldn’t point to any actual document that had been falsified. The judge wasn’t convinced, and she refused to remove The Guardian ’s legal defences, meaning the case will go to trial as planned.

This legal battle goes back to 2021 and 2022 when The Guardian published articles detailing allegations of sexual misconduct against Clarke from multiple women. At the time, 20 women came forward with claims, and since then, even more have joined the case. Clarke has consistently denied any wrongdoing, though he did acknowledge making an inappropriate comment to one woman, for which he apologized.

In court, The Guardian ’s lawyers accused Clarke of using the legal process as a way to spread damaging claims about their journalists—claims that wouldn’t hold up outside of court. They argued that his accusations were part of a strategy to cast doubt on the newspaper’s reporting. Clarke’s legal team, on the other hand, insisted that the deletion of messages was an attempt to cover up wrongdoing and obstruct justice.

Adding to Clarke’s setbacks, the judge also refused his request to cross-examine The Guardian ’s head of investigations, Paul Lewis, before the trial. The judge ruled that any questioning of Lewis would have to take place during the actual trial, not before. The Guardian has remained firm in its position, stating that its reporting was based on credible sources and that it stands by the allegations made by the women who spoke out.

With the trial set for March, this case is shaping up to be a high-profile showdown. Clarke has claimed that the allegations cost him his career, leading to the cancellation of projects and the loss of his BAFTA membership. Meanwhile, The Guardian has lined up 32 witnesses ready to testify under oath against him.

As things stand, Clarke is facing an uphill battle. Whether he can turn things around in court remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—this case is far from over.

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