West Indies batsman Chris Gayle won a
defamation case against an Australian
media company in the New South Wales
Supreme Court on Monday over an alleged
incident during the 2015 World Cup.
After less than two hours of deliberation,
the jury found Fairfax media had failed to
establish the truth of a series of reports it
ran alleging the 103-test cricketer had
exposed himself to a masseuse during the
tournament.
It also found Fairfax had failed to establish
that the allegation Gayle had propositioned
the masseuse was "substantially true".
"I came all the way from Jamaica to
actually defend myself and my character as
well. At the end of the day I'm very, very
happy," Gayle told reporters outside the
court.
"I'm a good man. I'm not guilty."
The jury also found that Fairfax, which
publishes The Sydney Morning Herald and
The Age newspapers, was motivated by
"malice" in publishing the stories.
A hearing over the amount of damages will
be held at a later date.
Fairfax Media later released a statement
saying said the company was "concerned
with the conduct of the trial to the extent
that on Friday it sought an order that the
jury be discharged and a new trial ordered".
"Fairfax believes that it did not get a fair
trial," it concluded. "It is seriously
considering its appeal rights."
