Simultaneous trials ordered in four defamation cases stemming from related newspaper reports

The High Court has directed that four defamation cases, all based on newspaper articles reporting the same District Court proceedings, be heard simultaneously by one judge and jury. The plaintiff, who had sought separate trials for each case, withdrew claims for personal injury damages, allowing the cases to proceed before a jury. The court found that the overlap in facts, legal principles, witnesses, and damages claims favored a single trial, which would save court time and costs and reduce the risk of confusion or inconsistent damages awards. The decision follows the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal's treatment of the cases as substantially similar, with the Court of Appeal noting the similarity of the articles despite different headlines.