Justice Pheroze Jagose: Good morning. We are now in the third week of a defamation trial. Talley's Group, which produces seafood, meat, vegetable and dairy products, alleges Television New Zealand defamed the company in six stories reported by Thomas Mead between 2021 and 2022.
While it is not seeking damages, Talley's is asking the court to find the stories were false and defamatory.
TVNZ and Mead reject the claims and say the reports were fair, accurate and in the public interest.
Davey Salmon, KC, is representing TVNZ and Brian Dickey, KC, is acting for Talley's. Mr Dickey, please resume your cross-examination.
Brian Dickey: At last, an apology. Thank you for that. But please answer the question. Are you a worm?
Thomas Mead: What?
Brian Dickey: A worm. A creeping thing that creeps upon the Earth. Like the weasel, the mouse, the tortoise after his kind. And like the ferret, the chameleon, the lizard, the snail and the mole. Verily, they are unclean; whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean.
Brian Dickey: Thank you, sir. Now, Mr Mead, we've established the fact that you are a worm. But you're a very young-looking worm, aren't you?
Thomas Mead: Well, I ...
Brian Dickey: You describe yourself in a text to a colleague as ''a baby-faced assassin''.
Thomas Mead: That text was ...
Brian Dickey: That text was rather vain, wasn't it? But good luck to you I suppose. I mean, some of us didn't look young when we were young. But there you are with your baby face looking like you want to throw your toys out of the cot. You're a baby. A big old crybaby. A howling infant, a crazed toddler, a ...
Brian Dickey: As Your Honour pleases. Mr Mead, we've established you are a juvenile worm, but this morning I want to ask you about 1News presenter Simon Dallow. He read the six stories you reported. People believe what he says. He is New Zealand's greatest living broadcaster, isn't he?
Justice Jagose: Before we begin this morning I understand that there is a mathematical issue.
Brian Dickey: I think we've established you're good for nothing, Mr Mead. Your Honour, my colleagues have calculated it is 0.006%.
Justice Jagose: Justice should not only be done, but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be calculated correctly.