ARTICLE · 22 FEBRUARY 2016

Shock! Daily Telegraph's "civic duty" defence to defamation fails

Marque Lawyers

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It's not like the Daily Telegraph to sensationalise. Hah! At least it keeps its defamation lawyers busy.

AustraliaLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration

Michael Bradley

Hannah Marshall

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It's not like the Daily Telegraph to sensationalise. Hah! At least it keeps its defamation lawyers busy.

Back in 2012 the Tele published a front page headline "Faces of Rage" along with the pictures of 15 men involved in protests in the Sydney CBD. The protests related to a controversial YouTube video called "Innocence of Muslims". Some protesters were calling for the beheading of the person who made the video.

One of the pictured men (we'll call him Roger) successfully sued for defamation. The imputation was that as one of an angry mob he took part in a riot. The Tele argued a qualified privilege defence (along with truth, which failed). Clever angle, yes. Strong prospects, not so much.

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