Foreign satellite suppliers give evidence in the High Court
Two suppliers of foreign satellite equipment today appeared in the High Court to give evidence in a case being brought against them by the Premier League.
Malcolm Chamberlain, director of Surrey-based AV Station, and David Richardson, director of Durham -based QC Leisure, both appeared in person as witnesses for the defence.
Under cross-examination from James Mellor QC, prosecuting for the Premier League, Chamberlain said he did not realise there was a doubt over the legality of foreign decoder cards until reading about it in the trade press and being asked questions by his customers.
"I felt it was a grey area that would eventually be tested," he told the court.
On the issue of the closed Saturday afternoon period, it emerged that Chamberlain asked his customers to sign a disclaimer saying they would not show Premiership football at this time.
However he said: "I became aware that there were some who were prepared to flaunt it."
Later Richardson, of QC Leisure, told the court his company had previously asked customers to sign disclaimers about the closed period, but admitted the practice had "dwindled".
Mellor later produced a letter from a former QC Leisure salesman who had sent copies to pubs advertising that they would be able to show Saturday 3pm matches.
But Richardson said the salesman "was his own boss" and was no longer with the company.
Mellor also asked Richardson whether he was aware that the ART and Nova cards he sold were for domestic use only. Richardson replied: "A card is a card is a card."
Portsmouth licensee Karen Murphy was due to appear as a witness for the defence but will not now be called.
Murphy is currently midway through a separate High Court case in which she is appealing against a previous crown court conviction for showing foreign satellite football.
Proceedings in the current case are due to finish on Friday, but may conclude tomorrow (Thursday).
A ruling is expected within weeks rather than months.
The case continues.
