A former Daily Mail editor, Lampert, has vehemently denied any involvement in hacking Sadie Frost's voicemails, a claim that has sparked controversy and raised questions about the ethics of journalism. This case, which involves several high-profile figures, including Prince Harry, has shed light on the murky world of media practices and the lengths some journalists may go to obtain exclusive stories.
The allegations center around four articles published between 2003 and 2005, all carrying Lampert's byline. In her testimony, Lampert asserted that she had never resorted to listening to voicemails for story material, dismissing the claim as baseless. She explained that the information in one of the articles was either publicly available or sourced from a trusted freelance contact, Sharon Feinstein.
Lampert further elaborated, "Sharon had an exceptional source within Sadie Frost's social circle or family, and this source consistently provided reliable information. I would always speak to Sharon for these insights."
David Sherborne, representing the claimants, pressed Lampert on a series of articles detailing private conversations between Frost and Law during their divorce proceedings. One such article, published in October 2004, mentioned a £10 million divorce settlement, which later prompted an apology from the Daily Mail after Law's solicitors disputed the accuracy of the report.
Sherborne suggested that the newspaper's inability to challenge the complaint was due to the information being obtained through phone hacking, a claim Lampert vehemently denied. She maintained that her source was a human contact, a trusted freelance journalist, and that the information came from Feinstein's contact.
When questioned about an article reporting Frost's prescription for sleeping pills, Lampert acknowledged that such reporting would not be acceptable today but was common practice at the time.
The court also heard about an incident where Law informed the couple's son during a car journey about his plans to marry Sienna Miller. Subsequently, the Daily Mail published a story about Frost's anger over the way the engagement was communicated.
Sherborne suggested that Lampert had obtained this information by listening to voicemail messages, to which she responded, "Absolutely not. I never did that."
Lampert's denial was met with skepticism, with Sherborne stating, "You had access to the primary source." Lampert firmly replied, "That's rubbish."
The claimants have accused ANL of employing unlawful information-gathering methods, including the use of private investigators and blagging, for stories between 1993 and 2018. This case, which is ongoing and expected to last nine weeks, has sparked a much-needed discussion about the boundaries of journalism and the importance of ethical practices.
