Video-link to fugitive

Polanski (Roman) v Conde Nast Publications Ltd HL TLR 11 February

The appellant appealed against the Court of Appeal’s decision ([2003] EWCA Civ 1573; 23/ LL p8) that he was not to be permitted to give evidence in his libel claim by video conference link from France so as to avoid coming to the UK where he might be arrested and extradited to the US. The judge gave that direction, but the Court of Appeal held that he had misdirected himself in principle because that would bring the administration of justice into disrepute.