Sunday Mirror to face Contempt of Court charge

The Attorney General is bringing a charge of contempt of court against the Sunday Mirror over the collapse of the Leeds United players' trial.

He has informed solicitors for Mirror Group Newspaper of his intention to seek permission from the Divisional Court to bring proceedings.

No personal action is to be taken against the paper's editor, Colin Myler, who resigned in the wake of the controversy.

The action against the newspaper follows publication of an article which caused the trial of Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Bowyer, Paul Clifford, Neale Caveney and Michael Duberry to be halted on April 9.

Bowyer, Woodgate, Clifford, and Caveney denied causing grievous bodily harm to Sarfraz Najeib in Leeds in January 2000.

Woodgate and Bowyer will face a retrial at Hull Crown Court on October 8. Mr Clifford and Mr Caveney are also to face a retrial.