Preliminary issues determined in Chris Packham defamation claim

Mr Justice Johnson has today handed down judgment following a trial of preliminary issues in a defamation claim brought by Chris Packham CBE. 

Jonathan Price and Claire Overman, instructed by Leigh Day, act for Mr Packham.  His claim concerns articles, videos and tweets published by Dominic Wightman (editor of “Country Squire Magazine”), Nigel Bean and Paul Read.  These publications accuse Mr Packham of lying to the public in crowdfunding campaigns for the care of maltreated former circus tigers. 

In his judgment, Mr Justice Johnson has determined the natural and ordinary meanings of the publications, ascribing meanings broadly reflecting those in Mr Packham’s Particulars of Claim.  He has also ruled that all of the meanings are defamatory of Mr Packham at common law, and are statements of fact rather than opinion. 

The judgment may be found here.