Overview
- Under cross-examination, Dr Evan Harris accepted he had reviewed and revised Graham Johnson’s 'Operation Bluebird' memo after previously denying seeing it, calling his earlier evidence an error.
- Harris maintained he did not pay witnesses for testimony, as the court reviewed records showing Johnson paid convicted phone hacker Glenn Mulcaire more than £22,000 during research efforts.
- A disclosed exchange showed Johnson urging Mulcaire to 'raise his game' as part of work gathering material about alleged misconduct at the Mail titles, which the publisher denies.
- Emails entered in evidence captured Harris discussing a plan to approach Gary Lineker as a supportive public figure, a message he described in court as black humour.
- Associated Newspapers is contesting the timeliness of some claims, arguing figures including Sir Simon Hughes and Sadie Frost knew of potential cases before an October 2016 cut-off, with the trial due to conclude in March.