PUBLISHERS OF THE Daily Mail and the Sun newspapers have each been fined £15,000 for contempt of court for publishing photographs online showing a defendant in a murder trial holding a firearm.

It is believed to be the first case in which a publication has been found guilty of contempt online, reports journalism.co.uk.

Both publications had posted uncropped or insufficiently cropped photos after the start of the September 2009 Sheffield Crown Court trial of Ryan Ward, who was later found guilty of murdering mechanic Craig Wass.

Associated Newspapers and News Group Newspapers said that the risk of of prejudice was ‘insubstantial’, however Lord Justice Moses and Mr Justice Owen ruled there had been contempt and ordered the publications to be fined, the Daily Mail reports.

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Daily Mail and the Sun fined £15,000 each for contempt of court

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.