Former Mirror editor Piers Morgan is going to be called as a key witness in the trial of his former City Slicker columnists, James Hipwell and Anil Bhoyrul.
The pair appeared in court on Monday charged with breaching the Financial Services Act, which covers insider dealing, for their activities as Mirror share tipsters. If found guilty they could face up to seven years in jail.
Morgan was also subject to the Government investigation into the alleged illegal share-dealing of fouranda-half years ago, but in June he was cleared by the Department of Trade and Industry.
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He was censured by the Press Complaints Commission, but kept his job, unlike the Slickers.
Hipwell, who now edits monthly gambling magazine Inside Edge, said: “I’m glad the end of the road is in sight, but this has been a long process and I’m looking forward to clearing my name in due course.
“Morgan will be called as a witness and have to explain some of his share dealings at the Mirror.”
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Co-defendant Bhoyrul is now editor of Dubai-based monthly magazine Arabian Business.
The pair were bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 20 September. They have indicated that they will plead not guilty and a trial is expected to take place in six months to a year.
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