Beckham libel and slander lawsuit dismissed

Los Angeles, Feb 15 (AFP) English football star DavidBeckham''s 25 million-dollar libel and slander lawsuit againstIn Touch magazine was dismissed by a US District Court judge.

A story in the celebrity-orientated magazine alleged thatthe Los Angeles Galaxy star midfielder, a global footballicon, cheated on wife Victoria, a former Spice Girl, with aprostitute.

Judge Manuel Real yesterday ruled that Beckham is apublic figure and allegations of infidelity would be of publicinterest and that there was no evidence the story waspublished with malice.

The Galaxy said in a filing with the court that Beckhamwas visiting his father in London during one of the times hewas alleged to have been in an illicit visit with Irma Nici.

Richard Kendall, a lawyer for Beckham, said the rulingwill be appealed. (AFP) PM