Ruling 'a victory for Hello!' says lawyer

Charles Russell, the solicitors representing Hello!, said today's court ruling in favour of Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas was a victory for the magazine.

A statement said Hello! was cleared of two-thirds of the allegations.

It said Mr Justice Lindsay had rejected the claim of invasion of privacy, and also the claim that the magazine had conspired for the photographs of the couple’s wedding to be taken, said the statement.

Christopher Hutchings, a partner at Charles Russell, who led the legal team, said: “The ruling means our client has been vindicated in the major aspects of these claims. Winning on the privacy and conspiracy issues not only represents a victory for Hello! but for the media in this country.”

He said an appeal was being considered over the commercial aspect of the wedding photographs agreement between OK! and the couple.