Private investigator Gavin Burrows denied signing a witness statement alleging illegal activities for Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), telling London's High Court on Monday that the claimants had been 'conned' and his signature was forged. The case involves Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence suing ANL over alleged unlawful information gathering dating back 20 years.
Key Takeaways
Private investigator Gavin Burrows denied signing a witness statement alleging illegal activities for Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), calling it a 'pack of lies'. The case involves Prince Harry and other high-profile figures suing ANL over privacy breaches. Burrows claimed his signature was forged, while the claimants' lawyers accused him of changing his testimony out of revenge. The trial is expected to conclude later this month.
- Gavin Burrows denies signing witness statement alleging illegal activities for ANL
- Statement forms a key part of Prince Harry's privacy lawsuit against ANL
- Burrows claims signature was forged, calls statement 'a pack of lies'
- Claimants' lawyers accuse Burrows of changing testimony out of revenge
- Trial expected to conclude later this month
Burrows, testifying via video link from an undisclosed location, said he first heard about the statement attributed to him in a newspaper report. He claimed that the statement was 'a pack of lies' and that his signature had been faked. The statement allegedly details Burrows hacking voicemails, tapping landlines, and accessing financial and medical information for journalists at ANL.
David Sherborne, representing the claimants, questioned Burrows about his change in position regarding the statement. Sherborne suggested that Burrows had 'decided to switch sides out of revenge' after an argument with investigative journalist Graham Johnson, who assisted Prince Harry's legal team. Burrows denied this, stating: 'It was not a case of switching sides.' Antony White KC, representing ANL, also questioned Burrows about his evidence being driven by revenge.
Burrows told the court he had contacted ANL when he first read about the statement to inform them that he had not given it. He also said he had asked the publisher to contact Baroness Doreen Lawrence, believing she was being 'conned'. The private investigator denied knowing several of the claimants and stated he did not care about celebrity figures.
The trial is expected to hear closing submissions later this month, with Burrows being the last witness. ANL has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the case.
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