Burrows testified from an undisclosed overseas location; the trial has been underway since January and is nearing its conclusion.

A key witness in the privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, Gavin Burrows, testified that the claim is a con and said his signature on a damaging witness statement was forged.

The case centers on alleged illegal information gathering, including phone-hacking by Associated Newspapers and its Mail titles dating back about three decades; Associated denies wrongdoing.

Burrows said he only learned of the allegations from a newspaper report and did not know he was involved in the litigation until January 2023.

Courtroom tensions suggest concerns about witness manipulation and possible financial motives behind the allegations, complicating the proceedings.

The testimony introduces a dramatic twist, potentially undermining the credibility of the plaintiff’s evidence and strategies.

The trial began in January and is ongoing, with closing submissions expected later in March; Burrows is the last witness covered by Reuters.

Judge and court dynamics have featured testimony from Harry, Elton John, other claimants, journalists and staff; Burrows remains the final witness as closing submissions approach.

Yanover admitted harboring a long-standing grudge against Burrows and acknowledged lying on some issues, while insisting he is truthful now to hold others accountable.

Graham Johnson, a journalist linked to the research team, previously claimed Burrows agreed to a book deal and paid work; their relationship soured in early 2022.

Burrows’s testimony is pivotal, and his assertion of forgery casts doubt on key evidence and could influence the trial’s direction.

Convicted phone-hacker Graham Johnson, now working with the claimants, approached Yanover as part of the case.