Prince Harry case hears blackmail claim
Fresh evidence was heard at the High Court in London in litigation involving Prince Harry after a former Mail on Sunday executive alleged that a legal researcher working with the Duke’s wider claimant group attempted to pressure him over a cache of emails.
The Telegraph reported that Chris Anderson, the former associate editor of the Mail on Sunday, told the court he received a “disturbing” call in 2016 from Graham Johnson, who is said to have suggested that emails “very embarrassing” for Mr Anderson would be kept private if he co-operated with enquiries.
Mr Anderson told the court he was left with the “clear impression” Mr Johnson had been trying to blackmail him. The article said Mr Johnson, who was convicted of phone hacking in 2014 and is part of the claimants’ legal research team, has denied that the conversation amounted to blackmail.
The hearing forms part of a broader claim brought by the Duke of Sussex and other high-profile figures against Associated Newspapers Limited over alleged unlawful information-gathering, a case BritpopNews has followed as Prince Harry and other claimants pursue action against the Daily Mail publisher.
The trial continues, with the court also hearing about emails said to have been obtained from convicted phone hacker Glenn Mulcaire and exchanged with the late Greg Miskiw, and the defence disputing that newsroom staff knew of any phone hacking.
