Face of Nartion : Melbourne nightclub owner has won a defamation case against a former senior policeman who linked her inner-city club with drug trafficking and overdoses.
Martha Tsamis, the director of Inflation nightclub, sued the state over comments made by former superintendent Brett Guerin to the Herald Sun and 3AW in 2014 about drug trafficking, overdoses and underage drinking at the venue.
They also rejected the truth defence in relation to the imputation that Ms Tsamis managed the club in a manner conducive to drug trafficking and violence. The jury also rejected the claim that the comments were only Mr Guerin expressing his opinion.
In handing down their decision on Friday afternoon, the jury accepted the state’s “substantially true” defence in relation to some of the imputations alleged by Ms Tsamis.
They accepted the truth defence over Mr Guerin’s alleged imputation that Ms Tsamis operated the club as a “honeypot” for drug dealers.
The same defence was accepted over imputations in Mr Guerin’s interviews that Ms Tsamis had operated Inflation in a manner that allowed drugs to be sold and consumed, and in a manner resulting in overdoses in and around the venue.
Supreme Court Justice John Dixon will hear submissions from both sides before making a decision on damages to be paid to Ms Tsamis.
During a weeks-long trial, Ms Tsamis gave evidence that she feared for her safety and had felt so sick she couldn’t get out of bed for days after Mr Guerin’s interviews.
