The Times pays libel damages to barrister Barbara Hewson over death threat allegations

Times Newspapers Limited has agreed to pay libel damages and legal costs to barrister Barbara Hewson after reporting that she was accused of making death threats and persistent nuisance phone calls to a law student in complaints to the Bar Standards Board and Leicestershire police. Neither the Bar Standards Board nor Leicestershire police pursued the complaints against Ms Hewson.

The settlement was announced in a statement inn The Times and on its website.  A copy of the statement can be found here.

The meaning of the words complained of was determined by Mr Justice Nicklin in a preliminary issue trial in March 2019 (see the judgment here). The settlement came shortly before the trial of the libel claim was due to commence on 7 December 2020.

The MailOnline settled a similar claim in May 2019 (see our article here).

Barbara Hewson was represented by Max Campbell and Elisabeth Mason of Brett Wilson LLP and William Bennett QC of 5RB.

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