Shares in Trinity Mirror are falling on the London Stock Exchange today on fears the Sunday Mirrormay be found in contempt of court and liable for a limitless fine.
At 11.30 a.m. shares in the Footsie 250-listed company were down by 3.1 per cent or 14'p at 449p.
The trial involving Leeds United footballers Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Bowyer and two others collapsed yesterday after an article in the Sunday Mirrorwas judged to be prejudicial.
The trial at Hull Crown Court had lasted 10 weeks and cost some £8 million.
The Attorney General will decide whether proceedings should be taken against the Sunday Mirrorfor contempt of court. The paper denies contempt.
The High Court, which will then consider the matter, has the power to impose an unlimited fine, sequester the paper's property and even imprison the editor.
No editor has been imprisoned for contempt since 1948.
PA