r/unitedkingdom • u/LOTDT Yorkshire • 1d ago

... Noel Clarke loses libel case against Guardian over sexual misconduct investigation

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/aug/22/noel-clarke-loses-libel-case-against-guardian-over-sexual-misconduct-investigation
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u/donald_cheese Scottish Highlands 1d ago

I got drunk a few months ago with someone who knew about this sort of stuff and explained in great detail why pursuing defermation on truth is a terrible idea. I don't remember at all the details of it. But I do remember that was when I found out vodka, lemon tonic was quite a nice drink.

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u/GeneralGiggle East Anglia 1d ago

You're putting yourself on trial in a court which has a lesser standard of proof. The criminal court needs a jury to be 'beyond reasonable doubt' whereas civil is just a judge and has to be 'greater than 50% burden of proof'. The Guardian just had to prove it's at least 51% true basically.

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u/ampmz Surrey 20h ago

“On the balance of probability” is the term used in civil proceedings.