Sir Cliff Richard is trying to stop information which he claims is private and sensitive from coming out into the public during a High Court battle with the BBC.
The British pop star has sued the BBC for coverage of a police raid at his home in Sunningdale, Berkshire back in August 2014, following allegations of sexual assault.
The 77-year-old, who denies any wrongdoing and was not charged with the offence, said that he suffered ‘profound and long-lasting damage’. The BBC said they will ‘defend ourselves vigorously’.
His case is due to go to the High Court in April this year.
Yesterday, Mr Justice Mann oversaw a preliminary hearing where he analysed information contained in witness statements. He ruled that the information should remain private now but will review rival arguments during the trial.
Singer Sir Cliff Richard (wearing purple shirt) together with companion John McEllyn and several friends
Lawyers for the BBC said they would not agree to evidence being kept private during open court proceedings, claiming it was ‘important and significant’ that evidence is put into the public domain.
Justin Rushbrooke QC, who is leading Sir Cliff’s legal team, said five ‘sensitive’ passages in witness statements contained information about the police investigation into the singer which was not in the public domain.
He told the judge: ‘What is contained within the paragraphs of these witness statements is plainly within the four corners of what we say is private information.
‘This is the BBC holding itself up as the guardian of the public interest and saying the public is entitled to hear its full evidence.’
He added: ‘It is plainly wrong to say they will get any less a fair trial from your Lordship if these passages, five in all, are withheld from public inspection.’
Mr Rushbrooke said Sir Cliff was not asking the judge to sit in private.
Gavin Millar QC, who is leading the BBC’s legal team, said the passages should be aired in open court.
‘The passages in these witness statements are not part of an attack by the BBC,’ he said.
‘These passages are there as part of the BBC’s case.’
He added: ‘We don’t say we are the guardian of the public interest.’
Mr Millar said the open justice principle should apply.
Lawyers said a man alleged he was sexually assaulted by Sir Cliff at Bramall Lane football stadium (Richard Sellers/PA)
Lawyers have told how, in late 2013, a man made an allegation to then Metropolitan Police, saying he had been sexually assaulted by Sir Cliff at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane football stadium in Sheffield when a child in 1985.
Metropolitan Police officers passed the allegation to South Yorkshire Police in July 2014.
Sir Cliff denied the allegation and in June 2016 prosecutors announced that he would face no charges.
A BBC spokesman said the BBC had reported Sir Cliff’s ‘full denial of the allegations at every stage’.
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