The defamation trial of Barry Neufeld wrapped up Tuesday (Nov. 21) in Chilliwack Law Courts.
The six-day trial was the upshot of the civil lawsuit between trustee Carin Bondar and former trustee Neufeld.
Counsel for the plaintiff Susanna Quail and defence counsel Paul Jaffe presented arguments and cross examination of the two witnesses in turn.
The lawsuit alleged that former school trustee Neufeld defamed Bondar when he called her a 91裸聊视频渟triptease artist.91裸聊视频�
The 91裸聊视频渟triptease artist91裸聊视频� comment about Bondar by Neufeld came 24 minutes into an hour-long internet talk show aired on Sept. 21, 2022 from Action4Canada called the Empower Hour, which was replayed in court.
Quail framed the striptease remark for the court as 91裸聊视频渇alse, injurious and not defensible as fair comment.91裸聊视频�
It was hurtful and stressful for Bondar to have her reputation as an accomplished science educator wholly replaced with 91裸聊视频渁n entirely fictional narrative that she is an underdog striptease artist,91裸聊视频� Quail said in court, and general and aggravated damages are being sought.
Some people actually believed the remark, and told Bondar that they had voted for her even 91裸聊视频渄espite her past.91裸聊视频�
Quail clarified that Bondar91裸聊视频檚 PhD dissertation focused on animal reproduction and led to an interest in popular science education.
But 91裸聊视频渋t91裸聊视频檚 not actually about human sexuality,91裸聊视频� Quail underlined. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 about animal biology.91裸聊视频� And it often uses pop culture to 91裸聊视频渆ngage viewers,91裸聊视频� she said.
The online content the science educator has produced 91裸聊视频渋s mildly titillating in a silly way,91裸聊视频� Quail said.
Bondar91裸聊视频檚 work has been featured worldwide on the Discovery Channel, the Science Channel, National Geographic, Scientific American and Animal One, and racked up millions of views.
Quail took the question to Neufeld: 91裸聊视频淎nd it was your honest belief that the most accurate way to describe her was as a striptease artist?91裸聊视频� referring to the Sept. 21, 2022 appearance on the Empower Hour.
Neufeld responded: 91裸聊视频淎mong other things, she91裸聊视频檚 an eminent scientist who also happens to be a striptease artist.91裸聊视频�
Quail pointed out that he didn91裸聊视频檛 mention any of those other qualities.
He called the video 91裸聊视频渧ulgar91裸聊视频� and clarified that on the broadcast all he said was: 91裸聊视频淩ichard Procee had lost the byelection to that striptease artist.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 didn91裸聊视频檛 mention her by name,91裸聊视频� Neufeld testified.
Asked if it was his view that the Organisms Do Evolve video was 91裸聊视频渁 striptease video,91裸聊视频� he replied: 91裸聊视频淣ot primarily. It was a parody of Miley Cyrus song.91裸聊视频� The main purpose 91裸聊视频渨as to swing back and forth naked on a wrecking ball singing 91裸聊视频業 came in like a wrecking ball.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
Then was it something else 91裸聊视频減rimarily?91裸聊视频� Quail asked.
91裸聊视频淵es. It was a mocking insult of people who believe in creation,91裸聊视频� Neufeld said.
91裸聊视频淪o you don91裸聊视频檛 think she91裸聊视频檚 a striptease artist?91裸聊视频� Quail later asked.
91裸聊视频淪he was on that particular occasion,91裸聊视频� Neufeld stated.
Quail said Bondar was subjected to a 91裸聊视频渉ostile, argumentative, demeaning and unnecessarily lengthy cross examination91裸聊视频� by the opposing counsel.
91裸聊视频淒efendant91裸聊视频檚 counsel asked Dr. Bondar questions that gratuitously falsely described her performance in the Organisms Do Evolve video as involving writhing on the floor, simulating orgasms and more.91裸聊视频�
Jaffe cross-examined Bondar for almost three days before putting Neufeld on the witness stand.
He contended Neufeld91裸聊视频檚 use of the descriptor 91裸聊视频渟triptease artist91裸聊视频� was an 91裸聊视频渉onestly held belief91裸聊视频� mentioned in passing during the Zoom meeting of his followers.
Jaffe suggested the 91裸聊视频渃ontroversy91裸聊视频� about Bondar91裸聊视频檚 work pre-dated Neufeld91裸聊视频檚 comment, but she insisted it started after the comment.
Jaffe said during his cross that Bondar resisted conceding 91裸聊视频渙bvious facts91裸聊视频� like the ongoing rift in the Chilliwack School District over SOGI 123.
Jaffe described Bondar under cross as 91裸聊视频渆vasive, argumentative, dismissive, contradictory and confrontational.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淎nd so my friend is absolutely right. It was a long, difficult cross examination.91裸聊视频�
The three defences that counsel for Neufeld filed in connection with the suit were: justification, fair comment and qualified privilege.
Neufeld was asked why he posted Bondar91裸聊视频檚 video, Organisms do Evolve, on his social media.
91裸聊视频淲ell, I thought it was a matter of public interest. I didn91裸聊视频檛 think the public should know that this was an appropriate behaviour for anyone involved in the governance or supervision of children,91裸聊视频� Neufeld testified.
It was because trustees have to maintain the 91裸聊视频渉ighest morality,91裸聊视频� he noted.
The few frames of her appearing nude 91裸聊视频渨as probably not as disturbing as, as some of the other lewd acts that were being performed in that video,91裸聊视频� Jaffe said.
Neufeld added: 91裸聊视频淚 found all those images very disturbing.91裸聊视频�
He later said regarding Bondar91裸聊视频檚 work: 91裸聊视频淚 have three adult daughters, an adult stepdaughter and a granddaughter.
91裸聊视频淚 do not think Carin Bondar91裸聊视频檚 behaviour online is a positive example for women. I honour and respect women, and I believe her portrayals of femininity degrades women.91裸聊视频�
Quail said: 91裸聊视频淚n this case, Mr. Neufeld pled justification and relies on the defence of justification knowing that his remark about Dr. Bondar was false and misleading.91裸聊视频�
Bondar feels that her 91裸聊视频測ears of hard work and accomplishments91裸聊视频� as a scientist and science educator have been erased, her lawyer noted.
Bondar said she felt subjected to a 91裸聊视频渢irade of misogyny that would not stop91裸聊视频� and said it why women don91裸聊视频檛 often dive into politics.
91裸聊视频淒r. Bondar testified that she now has to contend with a new identity in the public realm,91裸聊视频� Quail added.
Closing arguments were heard Tuesday before Justice Michael Stephens, the presiding judge, and his decision on the matter will be forthcoming.
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