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.
    25
    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. 
    53
    54   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Just let Mr. Rampton finish.
    55
    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.

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