Day 266 - 20 Jun 96 - Page 60
1
2 MR. RAMPTON: The defendants will have to call their publication
3 witnesses in any event. I am entitled to cross-examine
4 them about those factual matters which are already in
5 issue.
6
7 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Well, I do not see because for all I know,
8 and it is entirely a matter for the defendants; they might
9 decide, the result of the appeal might affect whether they
10 call a witness at all. Now, it is not my -- I do not -- I
11 cannot look into whether they would be well-advised or
12 ill-advised to call a publication witness if the amendments
13 stand or if only some of the amendments stand, or if they
14 all go, can I? What I can say is that I can see that the
15 result of the Appeal might affect the decision whether to
16 call this witness or that witness with regard to
17 publication.
18
19 MR. RAMPTON: I follow that but if they do call them, it does
20 not affect the evidence they give in relation to the
21 amendments.
22
23 MR. JUSTICE BELL: No. I appreciate that but I am more concerned
24 with the decision whether to call them or not.
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26 MR. RAMPTON: In that case and I am saying this because I am
27 determined to do everything I can to persuade your Lordship
28 and I know your Lordship is of the same mind, to finish
29 this case and to finish it sooner rather than later and the
30 thought of having one or may be two-and-a-bit days blank
31 next week at this stage in the case is, quite frankly,
32 appalling.
33
34 MR. MORRIS: We were not actually considering that ourselves. We
35 were happy for Professor Crawford.
36
37 MR. RAMPTON: Professor Crawford may give evidence for a day,
38 but that still means that Wednesday is blank; may be some
39 of Monday and certainly Thursday will not be used or the
40 proceedings in this Court. If it came to it, I would
41 suggest that one of the defendants started giving evidence
42 on Wednesday. They do not have to do any work for the
43 appeal because they have got Leading Counsel of
44 considerable experience to do it for them.
45
46 MS. STEEL: So Mrs. Brinley-Cod does not do any work when you
47 are here!
48
49 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Please; you must let Mr. Rampton finish.
50
51 MS. STEEL: I am sorry but we are putting up with a lot of
52 insults.
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54 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Just let Mr. Rampton finish.
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56 MR. RAMPTON: I do not know why -- well, I will not say any
57 more.
58
59 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Just ignore it, Mr. Rampton, and just tell me
60 what you want to know.
