Guardian Journalist Defends Investigation Practices in Noel Clarke Libel Trial

Lucy Osborne denies claims of bias and 'contamination' in the Guardian's reporting on allegations of sexual misconduct against the actor.

Noel Clarke is suing Guardian News and Media for libel over articles and a podcast alleging sexual misconduct by the actor, which he denies.
Guardian journalist Lucy Osborne testified in court, defending the integrity of her investigation and denying claims that sources were improperly influenced.
Clarke's legal team argued that allowing sources to communicate with one another undermined the credibility of the allegations, a claim Osborne rejected.
Osborne acknowledged that some sources had spoken to each other before the Guardian's investigation but maintained this did not compromise the reporting.
The High Court trial is ongoing, with a written judgment expected later this month after hearings conclude.