Lewis Sproston, the boyfriend of murdered model Sally Anne Bowman, has become the latest figure to take legal action against the News of the World over alleged phone-hacking.
Sproston dropped Bowman, 18, off at her home in the early hours of 25 September 2005, and was arrested on suspicion of her murder, before DNA evidence quickly eliminated him as a suspect.
Now Sproston, a plasterer, is demanding damages from both News Group Newspapers, publishers of the now defunct News of the World, and disgraced private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.
Pub chef Mark Dixie, 42, was later jailed for at least 34 years after being convicted of murder at the Old Bailey in February 2008.
He denied the killing, claiming he had come across Bowman's body outside her home. He explained the presence of his DNA by claiming he had sex after she had died.
Bowman had been stabbed seven times and was subjected to a gruesome sexual assault outside her home in Blenheim Crescent, Croydon.
Dixie had a string of previous convictions for sex offences and was arrested and charged nine months later following a minor fracas in a pub. His was linked with the murder when his DNA was put through the police national database.
Mulcaire, 41, a former professional footballer nicknamed Trigger, was jailed for six months in January 2007 after pleading guilty to illegally intercepting phone messages.
The company has this year already settled multiple claims brought at the High Court.
Results released by News Corporation earlier this month revealed costs of £39.1m for ongoing investigations linked with the closure of the News of the World in the last quarter, bringing the total to around £104m.
- This story first appeared in out new magazine Press Gazette – Journalism Weekly. Click here to subscribe
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
