ABC drops defence in former commando Heston Russell’s defamation case to protect sources
Broadcaster prepared to accept consequences and pay damages less than two weeks before start of trial
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The ABC has dropped its public interest defence in a defamation case brought by the former commando Heston Russell at the 11th hour after a federal court judge ordered the journalists to reveal their confidential sources.
At a hastily convened interlocutory hearing on Wednesday night, the ABC’s barrister, Lyndelle Barnett, said the corporation was prepared to accept the consequences of dropping its defence and paying damages because the issue of protecting sources was paramount.
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Law (Australia) | The Guardian
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