MEGHAN Markle could take the stand in her privacy battle amid claims she cooperated with the Finding Freedom authors.
Her legal team revealed in documents released today the 39-year-old is “currently anticipated” to “give evidence in person”.
Others called to the stand from abroad would most likely do so via video link due to travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
It comes as The Mail on Sunday argues the Duchess of Sussex had advance notice of what was in the book, and was told by one of the authors extracts of a personal letter to her dad would be published.
Meghan, 39, is suing Associated Newspapers over an article that printed parts of the same letter she wrote to her father Thomas, 76.
The publication claims Meghan allowed the bombshell book containing “favourable” intimate details of her life to go ahead – including extracts from the letter.
It comes as:
- Meghan Markle ‘fires lawyer who represented Johnny Depp in Amber Heard case’
- Trial date provisionally set for January 11 next year
- Meghan’s lawyers say the privacy battle could cost £1.8m
- Mail on Sunday want to cross examine Omid Scoobie in the trial over whether Meghan spoke to him about Finding Freedom
- Meghan gave the letter she wrote to dad Thomas Markle to the Kensington Palace communications team
In their defence, Associated Newspapers’ lawyers argue Finding Freedom “gives every appearance of having been written with their extensive co-operation”.
They insist either Meghan gave or allowed others to give the information, friends shared it with the authors without permission or it “is the product of invention by the authors and/or the authors’ sources”.
They claim if Meghan hadn’t been directly involved, she would have said she was betrayed or complained to the authors.
Meghan and her team have consistently denied being involved in the writing of the book, with the authors maintaining the information has come from friends and sources.
They argued that references in the book, published in August, were simply “extracts from the letter lifted from the defendant’s own articles”.
Her lawyers added: “The copy of the Book was provided just before its serialisation, as is common practice, and at a time when it was obviously too late for any changes to be made.”
Documents released today show seven witnesses will be called to give evidence. Meghan plans to bring four to court, and the Mail on Sunday will call three.
The newspaper wants to quiz author Omid Scoobie to find out if Meghan spoke to him about the publication and contents of Finding Freedom.
A ten-day trial is expected to provisionally begin on January 11, and could cost Meghan about £1.8million.
The Mail on Sunday claims Meghan knew it was “likely” her father, Thomas, would publicly share the letter, and had given a copy to the Kensington Palace communications.
Meghan’s application to restrict emails and text messages about what she knew about the letter to be limited to just four days was dismissed.
The Mail on Sunday had applied for an “open end” search of the messages but the court ruled it would be kept to a six month time-frame.
It comes after Meghan reportedly fired the lawyer who represented Johnny Depp against Amber Heard.
Justin Rushbrooke QC has confirmed he will represent the former actress in future hearings, after he stood in for David Sherborne when he was tied up acting for Johnny Depp in a defamation claim against HOAR.
The Times reports law circles think Meghan may have acted in solidarity with Depp’s ex Amber Heard who accuses him of abuse. Sources have denied this.
