The ABC has dropped its truth defence to former Army major Heston Russell’s claims that he was defamed by two articles that suggested that he was involved in murdering an Afghan prisoner.
Nine has won more time to file its evidence in advance of a six-week trial in defamation proceedings by surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis, despite a judge noting its “under-resourcing” of the matter, which the court heard could involve the broadcaster calling up to 40 witnesses.
Facing defamation claims by well-known surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis, Nine will call at least 27 witnesses and argue for the public interest of its coverage of allegations by patients of inadequate post-surgery care, a court has heard.
A judge has found that the ABC defamed ex-commando Heston Russell by implying he was involved in murdering an Afghan prisoner, but he rejected claims that the broadcaster’s coverage implied he was actively responsible as the shooter.
A judge has raised doubts about ex-commando Heston Russell’s barrister’s claims that it “screamed from the page” of an allegedly defamatory ABC article that her client committed war crimes.
A former special forces commander who has sued the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over stories that allegedly imply he committed war crimes in Afghanistan is seeking to throw out the broadcaster’s truth defence, a court has heard.
Nine Network has apologised to former member for Bowman, Andrew Laming, over a news segment that accused him of taking a lewd photograph, having struck a confidential settlement after the broadcaster dropped all defences to the politician’s defamation case.
Soldiers who took the stand for Ben Roberts-Smith in his defamation case against Fairfax colluded on the evidence they gave of key events, counsel for Fairfax has told a judge as a long-running trial comes to a close.
The ABC has settled a lawsuit by the head of Russian motorcycle club Night Wolves over an allegedly defamatory Four Corners report.
Alleged war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith has won a bid to call a troop commander known as Person 81 in his defamation trial against Fairfax Media, despite the media company’s objections.