Key whistleblower contradicts part of phone hacking case against Daily Mail

Private investigator Jonathan Rees denies telling Doreen Lawrence he was involved in bugging her

A key whistleblower supporting a legal claim headed by Prince Harry and Doreen Lawrence against the publisher of the Daily Mail appears to have dealt a last-minute blow to the case against the media group.

Just weeks before a high court trial, Jonathan Rees, a private investigator who has supported claims of unlawful news gathering at Associated Newspapers, has contradicted a central allegation in the claimants' case.