Lester Bird wins defamation case against Spencer

Opposition Leader and head of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) Lester Bird has won his defamation case against Prime Minister and leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP) Baldwin Spencer and Crusader Publications.

Bird sued Spencer and the UPP aligned radio station for alleged defamatory remarks he made during a public rally on November 20, 2008.

 At the time Spencer alleged that Bird had committed serious criminal offences. He also made accusations of corruption and dishonesty against the former prime minister.

High Court Judge Justice Jennifer Remy said the defendant’s (Spencer and Crusader Radio) can not avail themselves of a defence of fair comment in this case, since they must prove that the comments are in fact true and no evidence was provided in this regard.

Bird was awarded $75,000 in damages.

Despite awarding Bird aggravating damages, Justice Remy found that his claim did not meet the threshold for exemplary damages as he requested.

Bird was seeking to have the court award him $150,000 and $100,000 for aggravating and exemplary damages respectively.