Noel Clarke's request to dismiss the Guardian's defense in his libel lawsuit against the newspaper has been unsuccessful.
The actor, writer, and director had accused the Guardian of tampering with important messages and creating false evidence. Consequently, the trial for his defamation case will proceed as planned in March.
Clarke is taking legal action against Guardian News and Media (GNM) following a series of articles that included allegations from several women accusing him of inappropriate sexual behavior on set over the years.
In response, Clarke, known for his role in Doctor Who, strongly refuted any claims of sexual misconduct or illegal behavior.
GNM is defending itself on grounds of truth and public interest.
In a court hearing, Clarke's lawyer argued that the Guardian's defense should be dismissed, citing instances where messages on an encrypted app were allegedly deleted, and evidence was allegedly fabricated after Clarke threatened legal action.
On the other hand, the Guardian's legal representative rebuffed Clarke's accusations as baseless attempts to tarnish the newspaper's journalists and spread defamatory rumors about its employees.
Additionally, the newspaper clarified that most of the data Clarke claimed had been erased was actually preserved and shared for the proceedings.
The Guardian denied the claims of evidence fabrication and message destruction, asserting that such allegations lacked credible support.
The judge, Mrs. Justice Steyn, is currently reviewing arguments on whether the Guardian's defense should be struck down based on Clarke's assertions.
The main trial is set to commence in early March and is expected to span six weeks.