In his judgment, the judge said he was satisfied the most serious imputations were proven on the balance of probabilities, which is the test in such civil cases.
More broadly, this case shows how hard it is to use defamation law to repair any perceived damage to your reputation. Once a case begins, you never can control what will be said in court.
After the article was published, Murdoch sent the publishers of Crikey a ‘concerns notice’, essentially threatening to sue them. In response, the publishers almost dared Murdoch to sue.
It’s far easier to throw around accusations of damage to one’s reputation than it is to actually prove it in court. A journalism scholar explains the criteria that must be met.
I’m certain this case will continue to be discussed in the media and academia and will continue to shape society’s understanding of the complexities of intimate partner violence.