A man known to โauthorities attended โa meeting where delegates discussed removing the CEO of the Northern Territory Land Council (NTLC), the court โheard Wednesday, prompting Senator jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s legal team to seek his exclusionโฃ from the โdefamationโค trial. The โapplication was not opposed by the man’sโ lawyers, but his barrister, sue Chrysanthou โคSC,โ argued against suppressing details of the case, including an affidavit from Senator Price.
The parties spent over four hours arguing before Justice Michael Wheelahanโข regardingโฃ the application to bar the man from the courtroom. Ms. Chrysanthou told the court the Australian Federal Police (AFP) stated they had no โข”specific concerns” that would require police intervention, despite knowing the man.
“There’s no suggestion he did anything thatโข was disruptive or that he did or โsaid anything that would be offensive to the parties,” Ms. Chrysanthou said.
The man didโค not appear โคin court Wednesday, and senator โขPrice’s lawyer, Mr. Gray, informed Justice Wheelahan that he received an email from the man stating he wouldโ not return for the โduration โขof the proceedings.
The defamation trial centers around claims made by Senator Priceโค against โNTLC CEO Lesley turner. On Tuesday, the court heard testimony that Ms. Turner’s reputation suffered โคfollowing media coverage of an alleged no-confidence motion last year.
