The Sunday Mirrorwas guilty of an "extremely serious" contempt in running an article that led to the collapse of the first trial of two Leeds United footballers, an English High Court heard.
Attorney General Lord Goldsmith QC is seeking to impose fines on the newspaper's publishers, MGN Ltd, for publishing an interview with the father of Mr Sarfraz Najeib - while the jury was considering its verdicts.
His counsel, Mr Andrew Caldecott QC, told Lord Justice Kennedy and Mrs Justice Rafferty the attorney was not seeking to establish that the newspaper deliberately set out to interfere with the administration of justice.
The case was brought under the strict liability rule, which meant that its conduct could be treated as contempt "regardless of an intention to do so".
Mr Caldecott said that MGN had made it clear it accepted liability and the real issue in the hearing, which is expected to last into tomorrow, went to penalty only.
Leeds and England under-21 player Lee Bowyer was later cleared at a second trial in December of causing grievous bodily harm and affray. Teammate Jonathan Woodgate, was ordered to do 100 hours of community service after being found guilty of affray.
Woodgate was found not guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to the street attack on Sarfraz Najeib (21), who was left with a broken nose and cheekbone and fractured leg.
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