Vic: Newspaper columnist gives evidence in defamation case
Eds: Note language in ninth par
By Nick Lenaghan
MELBOURNE, April 16 AAP - A columnist for Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper today enteredthe witness box to defend himself against a claim he defamed a senior Victorian magistrate.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Jelena Popovic is suing Andrew Bolt and his employer, The Heraldand Weekly Times, over a December 13, 2000, article.
Ms Popovic said the article claimed she was unfit for the job and should be sacked.
The Victorian Supreme Court has heard the article alleged Ms Popovic pre-judged anarson case involving five East Timor protesters who burnt a $75 flag at the Indonesianconsulate in Melbourne.
Opening the defence case today, Will Houghton, QC, told the jury the claim Ms Popovicpre-judged the case, bullied a police prosecutor and behaved inappropriately in the November2000 hearing were all true.
Mr Houghton also said another police prosecutor would give evidence that he had seenMs Popovic hug two drug offenders, a brother and sister, she let walk free in April 2000.
Ms Popovic also denies that claim.
Beginning his evidence today, Mr Bolt said he wrote an earlier article about Ms Popovicafter he began investigating controversial remarks by Chief Magistrate Michael Adams.
Mr Adams, who later stepped down after the ensuing controversy, had accused his magistratesof being "soft cocks and red necks".
Mr Bolt said he rang "someone I knew" in the police prosecutions' branch, who latershowed him complaints made by police prosecutors.
Earlier today, Ms Popovic was recalled to the witness stand to give evidence abouthow she had been able to track down brother and sister drug offenders she had dealt within September 1999.
Ms Popovic denied hugging the pair and said she had shook their hands from the benchbecause they had successfully completed a drug rehabilitation program.
Mr Houghton told the court the police prosecutor would give evidence about a differentalleged hugging incident.
Mr Bolt will resume his evidence when the trial continues before Justice Bernard Bongiornothis afternoon.
AAP nl/gfr/las/sb
KEYWORD: POPOVIC
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