

Man suing over 'coward punch' report

A young Englishman is suing for defamation over the use of the term "coward punch" in a news report on his being acquitted of assaulting Australia's former rugby sevens captain.
A magistrate in September found Sam Oliver had acted in self-defence when he punched Olympian James "Chucky" Stannard, 35, outside a Sydney kebab shop in the early hours of March 30, 2018.
Mr Oliver is now suing the Nine Network in the Federal Court over its TV news report of the case, which had the caption "No Penalty" and began with the newsreader saying "it was a coward punch that ended the career" of Stannard.
After a two-and-a-half day hearing with 16 witnesses, the magistrate found the 23-year-old tradesman - who had been on a working holiday visa - not guilty of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm during an argument about "Poms".
The defamation hearing is due to start in Sydney on March 25 with each party having previously agreed it was a "meaning" case.
In his statement of claim, Mr Oliver contends the broadcast carried defamatory meanings including that he "is a coward who punched a defenceless man causing him grievous injury" and ruining his career as a professional athlete.
He also alleges it made him out to be a coward who would have been guilty of a criminal assault had the truth come out at his trial - and that despite being acquitted he was guilty of a "cowardly criminal assault".


Mr Oliver is claiming damages, submitting he has been "greatly injured in his credit, reputation and occupation; and has been brought into public scandal, odium and contempt".
He's also seeking aggravated damages, contending Nine's conduct in publishing the story in a sensationalised manner indicated an intention to injure him and implied disrespect for the magistrate's judgement.
The broadcaster has denied the report was capable of being defamatory but says if it was, it was a fair report of the proceedings.
© AAP 2020

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