PPT is asking the court to stop and ITN from publishing allegations about inappropriate sexual activities. His legal team says publication would highly likely lead him to commit suicide.
The case was heard in London at the opening of a two-day trial. The claimant is detained in a psychiatric hospital for his own safety, and his lawyers say he has no intention of returning to public life.
May and July attempts
Sara Mansoori KC told the court that PPT first attempted to take his life in May, when and ITN contacted him for comment. He was admitted to hospital that afternoon as a voluntary patient.
He made a second attempt to take his life in July, when he absconded from a secure hospital. The court also heard that an independent expert assessed community arrangements as insufficient to manage the immediate suicide risk around publication.
and ITN case
The news outlets say their investigation is wide-ranging and rigorous, and their written submissions refer to more than 30 first-hand sources. They argue that the claimant's position does not displace the press's case to publish allegations it has investigated.
The claimant is relying on article two, article three and article eight of the European convention on human rights. The outlets' written submissions say the European court of human rights has never required a state to prevent publication of journalism to protect against the risk of suicide by an individual.
Wednesday's argument
Mansoori said, "It would be a travesty if the court didn’t step in to act in these circumstances." PPT's written submission also said the effect on him is tied to "shame arising from deep-rooted childhood trauma and the fear of ‘trial by media’."
The court will hear the other side's case on Wednesday, and the immediate question is whether publication can lawfully be blocked while PPT remains under psychiatric care.
