Biographer Denies False Memory in Phone Hacking Trial

A biographer of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Omid Scobie, has denied allegations that his evidence at the High Court regarding Piers Morgan's knowledge of phone hacking was fabricated to support Prince Harry.

Scobie, co-author of the book “Finding Freedom” about Harry and Meghan, took the witness stand on Monday as part of a trial against Mirror Group newspapers (MGN) brought by various high-profile individuals, including Prince Harry.

MGN, the publisher of The Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People, is facing accusations of illegal information gathering, including voicemail interception, obtaining information through deception, and employing private investigators for unlawful activities.

The publisher is contesting the claims, stating that there is insufficient evidence of voicemail interception in any of the four representative cases.

During the trial, it was revealed that Scobie, then a journalism student, spent a week at the Sunday People, where he allegedly received a list of mobile numbers and was given detailed instructions on how to listen to voicemails.

Andrew Green KC, representing MGN, expressed doubts about the plausibility of a student intern being asked to hack phones during such a short period.

In response, Scobie clarified that he had prior connections with the journalist who provided the instructions and that the term “hack” was not used.

He emphasized that he did not engage in phone hacking.

Scobie later admitted that he felt uncomfortable with the instructions but did not realize the gravity of the situation at the time.

Green suggested that the incident never occurred, accusing Scobie of either creating a false memory to be helpful or intentionally fabricating one.

Offended by the accusation, Scobie vehemently denied the claim.

The court also heard that Scobie had allegedly overheard former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan discussing information obtained from voicemails regarding Kylie Minogue and her then-boyfriend during Scobie's work experience at the publication in spring 2002.

Supporting this claim, an invoice from a private investigations firm addressed to a showbiz journalist at the paper for “Kay Minogue” was presented as evidence.

Scobie stated that he was surprised by the revelation at the time, leading to the memory sticking in his mind.

Piers Morgan, who served as editor of The Mirror from 1995 to 2004, has consistently denied any involvement in phone hacking.

Green challenged Scobie's recollection of events, suggesting it was another false memory.

Scobie firmly rejected the accusation.

In further questioning, Scobie described Morgan as an extremely hands-on editor who showed a keen interest in the paper's showbiz coverage, particularly the 3M column.

He clarified that his role as a journalist was to perform his job, countering claims that he was merely a cheerleader or mouthpiece for Prince Harry and Meghan.

As this trial unfolds, it raises concerns about the practices employed by certain media outlets and their alleged involvement in illegal activities such as phone hacking.

The outcome of this case will likely have significant implications for the future of journalism ethics and accountability.

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