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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Jim Waterson Media editor

‘Wagatha Christie’ puts England’s legal system on trial in the social media age

Rebekah Vardy leaves the Royal Courts of Justice.
Rebekah Vardy leaves the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Thursday. Photograph: James Manning/PA

The “Wagatha Christie” libel trial opened with a cry of despair from Coleen Rooney’s barrister: “This whole court might just think: why on Earth are we here?”

After almost two weeks of court hearings, it was a question that many of those who took part or watched – including Rebekah Vardy, Coleen Rooney, two former England footballers, dozens of journalists, and the judge, Mrs Justice Steyn – might have asked themselves at some point. (In reality, the lawyers involved may have been content to be there, knowing they are set to share hundreds of thousands of pounds in fees.)

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