Court action over UK trial collapse

LONDON, England -- A British tabloid newspaper looks set to face court action over an interview it published which led to the collapse of a high-profile trial.

The office of Britain's attorney general, Lord Williams of Mostyn, said on Tuesday he was applying to the Divisional Court for permission to bring contempt of court charges against the Sunday Mirror.

The trial of two Leeds United footballers accused of seriously assaulting a student collapsed on April 9 when Judge David Poole ruled the article carried a substantial risk of prejudice.

Sarfraz Najeib suffered serious injuries including a broken leg and fractured cheekbone in the alleged attack.

Footballers Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Bowyer and two of Woodgate's friends all denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent and affray.

After the article appeared in the newspaper, Poole said he had no choice but to discharge the jury and he referred the newspaper to the attorney general.

Legal costs at that stage were estimated at £8 million ($11 million.) A new trial date has now been set for October 8.

Following Tuesday's announcement a Mirror Group Newspapers spokesman said the company was pleased that the Attorney General was not going to proceed against it for deliberate or reckless common law contempt.

"We are pleased to note that the Attorney General decided not to proceed against us for common law contempt and therefore has accepted that this was not a deliberate or reckless act."

The group last month apologised for the effects of the article: "The decision to publish was a serious error of judgment. Colin Myler has resigned as editor of the Sunday Mirror and has left the company."

Myler will not face contempt charges, the attorney general's office said.

An official at the office said if found guilty, the newspaper group could face an unlimited fine.

But a media lawyer told Reuters news agency that contempt of court was normally punishable by fines of £50,000 to £100,000.