Sonia Sutcliffe V Private Eye
The award is 100000.
Sonia sutcliffe v private eye. A jury at the high court in london has awarded 600000 damages to sonia sutcliffe wife of the yorkshire ripper peter sutcliffe against the satirical magazine private eye. In a landmark case for british justice a high court jury awarded 600000 damages to sonia sutcliffe wife of the yorkshire ripper peter sutcliffe against satirical magazine private eye on this day in 1989. Ultimately the publication successfully appealed and had its payment lowered to 60000. Private eye publishers thought it absurd that sonia sutcliffe was awarded 600000 for damages to her reputation while peter sutcliffes victims were awarded only 7000 apiece.
Born 10 august 1950 is the former wife of the british serial killer peter sutcliffe. Szurma married the then 28 year old sutcliffe on 10 august 1974 her 24th birthday two years after she began treatment for schizophrenia. Sonia sutcliffe sued after allegations made in january 1981 that she used her connection to her husband the yorkshire ripper peter sutcliffe to make money. From there on sonia concentrated on the financial prospects of being the wife of the yorkshire ripper which culminated in the high court in london in may 1989 as she sought damages for an alleged libel against private eye who merely reported the press activities to sign her up for her story.
Peter russell reports on private eye magazine fighting for its continuation following the award of libel damages of a600000 to sonia sutcliffe wife of yorkshire ripper peter sutcliffe after articles in the magazine alleged she had been negotiating cheque book journalism deals. Four months after his arrest and while still on remand. Sonia sutcliffe nee szurma. She won 600000 in damages in may 1989 a record at the time which was reduced to 60000 on appeal by private eye.