Latest news with #MrsJusticeLambert
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Trial of High Court claims against Andrew Tate brought forward to next summer
The trial of civil claims against social media influencer Andrew Tate is due to be held months earlier than originally planned after a High Court judge said she was 'very keen to get on' with the case. Four women are suing the former professional kickboxer over allegations of sexual violence, including that he grabbed one by the throat on several occasions in 2015, assaulted her with a belt and pointed a gun at her face. Tate's barristers told an earlier court hearing that there was 'total denial of wrongdoing'. In written submissions for a hearing on Wednesday, barristers for the women said that following a preliminary hearing in April this year, a 16-day trial had been listed to start on February 22 2027. But Mrs Justice Lambert told the court in London that she was 'very keen to get on' with the case and that it should be listed sooner, fixing the trial to start on June 22 2026. The trial could last up to five weeks, with a further preliminary hearing expected to take place at a later date. She said: 'We just need to make this happen, really. 'It is not in anyone's interests that this case goes into the long grass of 2027.' Following the short hearing, the four claimants said: 'We welcome the judge's decision to bring our case forward. 'We've already spent years waiting for justice, and so it's of some comfort to hear that Andrew Tate will face these allegations in a court earlier than the original plan of 2027.' Matt Jury, managing partner of law firm McCue Jury & Partners, which represents the women, said: 'We commend the judge's decision to move the trial forward to next summer. 'It's another step toward justice that's already been far too long in coming.' The hearing in April was told that the case is believed to be a legal first as it will consider whether allegations of coercive control, in a civil context, could amount to intentional infliction of harm. Judge Richard Armstrong said that the claimants were 'seeking damages likely to reach six figures'. The women are bringing a civil case against Tate at the High Court after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute in 2019, with their allegations including rape and sexual assault. Three of the British accusers were the subject of an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary, which was closed in 2019. In court documents, one woman suing Tate claimed he 'would strangle her or grab her by her throat if she spoke back to him or said anything that he did not like… until she told him that she loved him or apologised for whatever he demanded at the time'. She said he, and his brother Tristan Tate, 'played good cop and bad cop to manipulate her', and that Tate allegedly put her in a headlock or whipped her with a belt if she did not get out of bed and do work for his webcam business. The documents also allege Tate 'had weapons, including firearms, which were often pointed at her' and that he had 'indicated to her that he would like to kill someone if he could'. Tate said that her account was 'fabrication' and a 'pack of lies', and has previously described the allegations as 'unproven and untested'. In a statement, a spokesperson for Tate previously said: 'He denies ever threatening anyone with a firearm, engaging in non-consensual acts or subjecting any individual to physical or psychological harm. 'These are civil claims, brought years after the alleged events and following a CPS decision not to pursue criminal charges. 'It is deeply troubling that such graphic and one-sided accounts are being publicised before any judicial assessment has taken place.' The statement added: 'Mr Tate will defend himself vigorously and remains confident the truth will prevail.'
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Andrew Tate civil trial moved forward by judge to summer 2026
The civil case against Andrew Tate will take place months earlier than planned after a High Court judge said she was "very keen to get on" with the case.A 16-day trial had been listed to start on 22 February 2027, but the case has now been moved forward to 22 June next women are suing Tate over allegations of sexual violence, including that he grabbed one of the women by the throat on several occasions in 2015, pointed a gun in her face and assaulted her with a belt. Tate has previously denied the claims in a written defence submitted to the High Court, calling them a "pack of lies" and "gross fabrications". Mrs Justice Lambert told the court in London: "We just need to make this happen really. Its not in anyone's interests that this case goes into the long grass of 2027."The claimants welcomed the judge's decision to bring the case forward, they said: "We've already spent years waiting for justice, and so it's of some comfort to hear that Andrew Tate will face these allegations in a court earlier than the original plan of 2027."The trial could last up to five weeks, with a further preliminary hearing expected to take place at a later date. Allegations previously described in court documents, seen by the BBC, contain detailed accounts of rape, assault and coercive woman claims Tate threatened to kill her, another says he made clear he would kill anyone who spoke to her, and a third claims Tate convinced her he had killed other people.A spokesperson for Tate previously said: "He denies ever threatening anyone with a firearm, engaging in non-consensual acts or subjecting any individual to physical or psychological harm."These are civil claims, brought years after the alleged events and following a CPS decision not to pursue criminal charges."It is deeply troubling that such graphic and one-sided accounts are being publicised before any judicial assessment has taken place." The civil case against Tate is one of several serious legal challenges around the world that he is fighting, including some where he is co-accused with his brother Tristan Tate. They are currently facing a mix of criminal and civil legal action in three countries - the UK, the US and Romania, they are facing allegations including human trafficking, trafficking of minors and money laundering. Andrew Tate also faces allegations of are also under criminal investigation in the US state of Florida. Andrew Tate has said that US authorities are "trying to find crimes on an innocent man".Andrew Tate's ex-girlfriend Brianna Stern also filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles in March, accusing him of sexual assault, battery and gender year, the brothers were detained in Bucharest after Bedfordshire Police in the UK said it had obtained an arrest warrant in relation to allegations of rape and trafficking dating back to between 2012 and pair deny all accusations against them.A travel ban imposed on the brothers in Romania was recently lifted, and they have since travelled to the US and Dubai.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Trial of High Court claims against Andrew Tate brought forward to next summer
The trial of civil claims against social media influencer Andrew Tate is due to be held months earlier than originally planned after a High Court judge said she was 'very keen to get on' with the case. Four women are suing the former professional kickboxer over allegations of sexual violence, including that he grabbed one by the throat on several occasions in 2015, assaulted her with a belt and pointed a gun at her face. Advertisement Tate's barristers told an earlier court hearing that there was 'total denial of wrongdoing'. In written submissions for a hearing on Wednesday, barristers for the women said that following a preliminary hearing in April this year, a 16-day trial had been listed to start on February 22nd, 2027. But Mrs Justice Lambert told the court in London that she was 'very keen to get on' with the case and that it should be listed sooner, fixing the trial to start on June 22nd, 2026. The trial could last up to five weeks, with a further preliminary hearing expected to take place at a later date. Advertisement She said: 'We just need to make this happen, really. 'It is not in anyone's interests that this case goes into the long grass of 2027.' Following the short hearing, the four claimants said: 'We welcome the judge's decision to bring our case forward. 'We've already spent years waiting for justice, and so it's of some comfort to hear that Andrew Tate will face these allegations in a court earlier than the original plan of 2027.' Advertisement The hearing in April was told that the case is believed to be a legal first as it will consider whether allegations of coercive control, in a civil context, could amount to intentional infliction of harm. Judge Richard Armstrong said that the claimants were 'seeking damages likely to reach six figures'. The women are bringing a civil case against Tate at the High Court after the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute in 2019. Three of the British accusers were the subject of an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary, which was closed in 2019. Advertisement In court documents, one woman suing Tate claimed he 'would strangle her or grab her by her throat if she spoke back to him or said anything that he did not like… until she told him that she loved him or apologised for whatever he demanded at the time'. She said he, and his brother Tristan Tate, 'played good cop and bad cop to manipulate her', and that Tate allegedly put her in a headlock or whipped her with a belt if she did not get out of bed and do work for his webcam business. The documents also allege Tate 'had weapons, including firearms, which were often pointed at her' and that he had 'indicated to her that he would like to kill someone if he could'. Tate said that her account was 'fabrication' and a 'pack of lies', and has previously described the allegations as 'unproven and untested'. Advertisement In a statement, a spokesperson for Tate previously said: 'He denies ever threatening anyone with a firearm, engaging in non-consensual acts or subjecting any individual to physical or psychological harm. 'These are civil claims, brought years after the alleged events and following a CPS decision not to pursue criminal charges. 'It is deeply troubling that such graphic and one-sided accounts are being publicised before any judicial assessment has taken place.' The statement added: 'Mr Tate will defend himself vigorously and remains confident the truth will prevail.'
The Independent
07-05-2025
- The Independent
Sycamore Gap trial jury told to put emotions aside and ‘calmly' judge case
The jury in the trial of two former friends accused of cutting down the beloved tree at Sycamore Gap has been told they must consider the evidence 'calmly and dispassionately'. The prosecution says groundworker Daniel Graham, 39, and mechanic Adam Carruthers, 32, drove around for 40 minutes from the Carlisle area, during Storm Agnes, to fell the sycamore beside Hadrian's Wall in September 2023. A trial at Newcastle Crown Court heard how the two defendants deny two counts each of criminal damage to the tree and the Roman wall, which was damaged when the sycamore crashed down. Setting out her legal directions, Mrs Justice Lambert told the jury: 'It is vitally important that during your deliberations, you consider the evidence calmly and dispassionately. 'You may feel yourself reacting emotionally to some of the evidence and feel sympathy for one side or the other. 'It is your duty, however, to put these emotions to one side and judge the case solely on the evidence.' The judge said the prosecution's case was that either of the defendants cut down the tree while the other filmed it. Mrs Justice Lambert said: 'In this case, the prosecution says that you can be sure that both defendants are guilty on both counts. ' One of the defendants chopped the tree down and caused damage to the wall and the other intentionally assisted and/or encouraged the other defendant by, for example, travelling with the other to the tree, assisting in carrying equipment from the car park and in filming the felling of the tree.' The judge said both defendants deny they were involved. Carruthers said he was staying at home in his caravan with his partner and their newborn baby. Graham said he was at his home that night and while he accepted that his Range Rover was driven to the car park nearest to Sycamore Gap and his phone was used to film the tree being felled, he said his co-accused took both. The judge said: 'He says that there are a number of people, including Adam Carruthers, who knew that he would leave his car open with the keys in the ignition or behind the visor and that Adam Carruthers could gain access to his phone with the pin code. 'It was not him in the car and not him using the phone that night.' The judge said the prosecution and defence will make closing speeches later and that there will be no more evidence at the trial. The trial continues.
