QB-2022-001397 - [2025] EWHC 2193 (KB)

On 3 March 2025, the Claimant filed an application for permission to serve witness summaries on behalf of Nicola Holt and Perry Colin Travers pursuant to CPR 32.9(1). However, the utility of the application was at least questionable as he did not seek to summons either witness. The application was not served on the Guardian and Mr Clarke chose not to pursue the application at trial.

On 4 March 2025, the Claimant filed an application for permission to cross-examine and to serve binding witness summonses upon six of the Guardian’s witnesses. The Guardian had consistently made clear that it intended to call five of those witnesses, namely, ‘Imogen’, Johannah Whyte (whose professional name is Jahannah James), Gina Powell, Philippa Crabb and Jing Lusi. The Guardian had given notice of its intention to rely on the statement of the sixth witness, ‘Maya’, as hearsay evidence on 5 December 2024. In a letter to TKP dated 4 March 2025, Wiggin drew attention to the fact that the application to cross-examine and summons ‘Maya’ was very substantially out of time (CPR 33.4(2)) and pointed out that “in any event, Maya is not in the jurisdiction and is therefore not amenable to a witness summons”. At the hearing on 5 March 2025, Mr Williams informed me that the Claimant was withdrawing the application.