Chris Packham’s libel case continued yesterday at the Royal Courts of Justice, against three individuals who are accused of a number of alleged defamatory actions against him.
On day one the court heard from Chris’s barrister, Jonathan Price, as he laid out the main arguments of Chris’s case. He told the Judge, the Honourable Mr Justice Saini, that Chris had been the target of ‘puerile and offensive’ material (see here).
Yesterday, Chris gave evidence and was cross-examined by Nicholas O’Brien, the barrister for defendants 1 & 2. As part of that process, Chris’s witness statement was referred to and as such it can now be considered a public document.
I’ll post a copy of the full statement below and I’d encourage you to read it all (50 pages). But I’d particularly encourage you to read from page 31 onwards, under the heading, ‘The effect of the Defendants’ publications and subsequent conduct‘.
It’s a shocking and sobering read.
I don’t think I need to say anything else.
Today is Chris’s birthday. If you’d like to send him a message of support, please click here.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Happy Birthday Chris. Sending love and support at this challenging time.
Penblwydd hapus Chris – keep on fighting for what is right 👌🏻❤️
You have an army of people behind you Chris. May justice be served xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Happy birthday, Sir. May you take these xxxxx xxxxx for everything they have.
Happy Birthday Chris, good luck with your court case and thank you for everything you do, it is deeply appreciated. Those who abuse you should be deeply ashamed of what they do and I hope through this case they will be held accountable. Sending love and support.
This a convincingly eloquent lawyer’s submission on behalf of Mr Packham. [Ed: for clarity, this isn’t a ‘lawyer’s submission on behalf of Mr Packham’. It’s Chris’s witness statement.] In the interests of balance I hope this website publishes the defendants’ submission so that the jury of public opinion can make an informed judgement. Many will not agree with some of Mr Packham’s views but gosh, isn’t this a poor reflection of the modern world where social media is a pathetic and uncontrolled way of discrediting those they disagree with? When libel was confined to the printed word it was usually first checked and double checked. Not so today and we are the worse for it. It repels me.
This is a website that is in full support of Chris Packham, his work and his beliefs. We do not need to read the defendents response here thank you. If we were to have any doubts we can look elsewhere but this Web page should not need to print their vile words for the sake of supposed balance.
Happy birthday Chris – hope you get the justice you deserve.
Happy birthday, Chris. Thank you, thank you, thank you for standing up for what is right.
Happy Birthday to a true friend of our wildlife
Wishing you a very happy birthday despite the difficult day ahead. We appreciate everything you do for wildlife and the planet.
Happy Birthday Chris and good luck with the trial, I’m sure justice will prevail in your favour and the xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx will receive their just deserts !!!
I admire your strength for standing up to these awful people. What shocks me most is the involvement of the press.
I love nature and also have an autistic grandson. Thank you for all that you do.
God Bless you Chris! NO ONE should have to go through even half of this!
I hope that you win this case, and get a break from the torrent of hate.
Many Happy Returns. You have my support and admiration.
OMG! This is so upsetting to read. My heart goes out to Chris, Megan and Charlotte.
Xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx.
I so hope he wins. He should not have to live his life in such fear.
Happy birthday Chris. Thankyou for standing up for wildlife and standing up to those vile people. No one should have to endure the torment you have suffered.
Feliz cumpleaños de Asturias en España. Saludos.
Happy birthday Chris and thank you for standing up for voiceless wildlife. Your contribution to life is nature preservation, education and fun, while your detractors’ are scarcely a weasel’s fart in a disused badger sett. Stay strong, you’re on the right side of history.
Very Happy Birthday Chris. I was shocked by your statement, and do so hope xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx I wish you, and your family, a far more peaceful and carefree future.
Chris Peckham is a good man, those nasty individuals should be ashamed of themselves !
Keep the good work up Chris
Wishing you a happy birthday Chris and hope that your legal case is concluded satisfactorily for you and your family. Donation made to assist this outcome.
Very moved by your statement. It is heartbreaking to learn what you and your family have been through. Very best wishes for the difficult days ahead. Your dedication to wildlife is totally inspiring and your programs fantastic.
Wow – I’ve finished reading your statement and it is staggering. The scale and nature of the harassment you, Megan and Chris have had to endure is outrageous, terrifying and truly disgusting. I totally understand your fear. These people xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
Your statement has clearly involved a massive amount of work and must have been a tremendous strain to put together and check. My sympathy goes out to you. I’m sending another donation your way!
I hope your birthday wasn’t too stressful.
You truly are one of the most powerful and brave wildlife campaigners of our time.
Your statement is shocking. I would like to say so much but I think it’s most important to spend my words and thoughts on wishing you and your family the strength to go through this, telling you that you inspire me with your work and sending you and yours lots of love. Happy birthday, Chris. I’ll keep supporting you from the Netherlands.
Ruth: thank you for posting. People need to see this. The bullying and hate has to be stopped.
Those 50 pages have left me shocked, incredibly angry and upset – I knew some of this, but had no idea of the severity of what Chris has been going through. It is all so very wrong… He doesn’t deserve any of this. He’s a good man, who devotes his life to caring and speaking up for wildlife and the planet. He shouldn’t be forced to live in fear xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx.
What madness this all is! What a nightmare for Chris & Charlotte. What courage he has to keep going for so long. He never seems to stops working & caring… Even yesterday he made time in his Court schedule to stand for a photo with the Franken Chickens demo.
Happy Birthday Chris! Hope you’ve had some good times today.
Love & support for all you do x
Chris, you have the majority of public support. You are the strongest voice for nature we have and you hold yourself in total professionalism and honour. The abuse suffered in the witness statement is disgusting and abhorrent. Action must be taken.
Stay strong. Stay safe.
First of all, happy birthday Chris, I do hope you’ve had a positive day. I’m horrified and shocked in equal measure at what you and your family are having to endure. I do hope you get justice and this awful abuse and intimidation ceases. Thank you for all you do – to call you a hero is an understatement.
Having read all that it reminded me of what happened as a result of one of the Q Anon conspiracy theories. That resulted in a guy, enraged by what he believed to be true, going to try to kill the supposed child abusers in the basement of a pizza parlour. The basement didn’t exist, nor did the child abuse. But the man had believed all the conspiracy stories. The defendents in Chris’s case have xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx What they are doing is potentailly very dangerous. But they seem to know it and are carrying on regardless. I am not surprised Chris fears for his life. All I can say is, Chris, lots of people are on your side and we will all do what we can to support you.
Happy birthday wishes for Chris!
Happy Belated Birthday. The wishes are warm however and I’m very pleased abd proud to give my utmost support to you. No one should endure this constant abuse just because they think, feel and have different opinions!!!!!! Love and Strength.
I have read through Chris’s impact statement. I will only say it actually made me cry. Utter disbelief. When all the injustices Chris has suffered are set down like this i am just appalled. Justice MUST prevail for him. As he said he is a human being. [Ed: Last sentence deleted – we need to wait for the judgement before commenting on that particular issue]