03/02/2020 Economou v David De Freitas (Rev 1) [2016] EWHC 1853 (QB) (27 July 2016) INTRODUCTION 2-7 THE CAUSE OF ACTION ISSUES 8 Legal Principles 9-19 Relevant factual background 21- 39 The November publications 40- 56 Discussion 57 -97 The December publications 98- 109 Discussion 111- 130 Summary of Conclusions on the Cause of Action Issues 131- 135 THE PUBLIC INTEREST DEFENCE 136 The Law 137 - 142 Issues 143 Matters of Public Interest 144-152 Belief that Publication was in the Public Interest 152-161 Reasonable Belief: the facts 162- 238 Discussion and conclusions 239 - 261 OVERALL CONCLUSIONS 262 Mr Justice Warby: INTRODUCTION 1. The factual background to this libel case has been aptly described as "striking and tragic". 2. The defendant is the father of the late Eleanor de Freitas. In December 2012 Ms de Freitas had a relationship with the claimant, Mr Economou. In January 2013 she accused him of rape. He was arrested, but never charged. In August 2013 he started a private prosecution against her alleging that she had accused him falsely, with intent to pervert the course of justice. The prosecution was taken over by the Crown Prosecution Service, who continued it. Ms de Freitas denied the charge. Four days before the trial date in April 2014 Ms de Freitas, who suffered from bipolar affective disorder, killed herself. www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2016/1853.htm 2/58