Catchwords:

DEFAMATION — defences — substantial truth —Defamation Act 2005 (NSW), s 25 — whether trial judge erred in withdrawing defence of substantial truth — whether sufficient evidence to support a finding of substantial truth — relevance of implausible denials of plaintiff

DEFAMATION — defences — substantial truth — contextual truth — justification of some imputations only — relevance of imputations found to be substantially true — discussion of Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Kermode (2011) 81 NSWLR 157; [2011] NSWCA 174