Overview
- Mr Justice Nicklin refused to grant permanent anonymity to the witness codenamed Berlin, citing open‑justice principles, with a temporary order maintained pending appeal.
- David Sherborne said the claimants will ask the Court of Appeal to protect Berlin’s identity, describing the witness’s testimony as crucial to allegations of unlawful information gathering.
- Gavin Burrows has been served with a witness summons and is required to give evidence at the multi‑week trial starting in January or risk contempt of court.
- Court submissions said Burrows disputed an August 2021 statement attributed to him as forged, while separate evidence described an alleged 2022 drunken confrontation with researcher Graham Johnson that led to a police call.
- Associated Newspapers denies wrongdoing, is seeking to strike out many claims, and faces allegations brought by Prince Harry alongside high‑profile claimants including Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Sir Simon Hughes.