Barrister Lloyd Rayney has been awarded more than $2.6 million in damages against the Western Australian government in one of the largest defamation payouts in the nation’s history.
Mr Rayney took legal action in the WA Supreme Court after he was acquitted of murder over the fact he was publicly named by police in 2007 as the prime and only suspect in his wife Corryn Rayney’s killing.
The damages include nearly $1.8 million in loss of income and $846,000 in damage to his reputation and distress, according to PerthNow.
Barrister Lloyd Rayney has been awarded more than $2.6 million in damages in one of the largest defamation payouts in the nation’s history (pictured with wife Corryn)
Mr Rayney took legal action in the WA Supreme Court after he was acquitted of murder over the fact he was publicly named by police in 2007 as the prime and only suspect in his wife Corryn Rayney’s killing
The damages include nearly $1.8 million in loss of income and $846,000 in damage to his reputation and distress
The award for damages comes after an infamous press conference carried out by Detective Sergeant Jack Lee during the investigation of Corryn Rayney.
It is the largest defamation payout awarded in Western Australia.
The losses were calculated based on ‘billable hours’ Mr Rayney missed out on charging clients in the three years between the press conference and the police charge.
Justice John Chaney said Mr Rayney could have benefitted from 2000 billable hours per year, ranging from $375 to $450 per hour.
The missed opportunities for billable hours came to a total of $1.777million including six per cent interest.
Mr Rayney’s lawyer Martin Bennett said the cost to taxpayers from the state defence of the action for ten years would likely be greater than the $2.63million award.
The award for damages comes after an infamous press conference carried out by Detective Sergeant Jack Lee during the investigation of Corryn Rayney
The payout is the largest defamation award ever handed out in Western Australia
The losses were calculated based on ‘billable hours’ Mr Rayney missed out on charging clients in the three years between the press conference and the police charge
Mr Bennett believes Mr Rayney will still be harrassed by people on the street who believe he is guilty of his wife’s murder.
‘It had a continuing effect up until last week, there was an incident of somebody accosting Mr Rayney,’ he said.
‘Someone just called him a murderer – have a look at your own Facebook pages – the comments after the judgment on Friday were just obscene.’
The defamation trial centred on comments made by Mr Lee at a press conference on September 20, 2007.
‘He is our prime suspect because our evidence at this time leads us to believe the offence occurred in that house and he is the occupant of the house,’ Mr Lee said.
Mr Rayney’s lawyer said he will still be harrassed by people on the street who believe he is guilty of his wife’s murder
‘He is our only suspect at this time.’
That allegation was never proven by Western Australia Police.
Three years after the press conference Mr Rayney was charged with murder, and two years after that he was acquitted.
He won an appeal and had charges of phone tapping thrown out of court.
Three years after the press conference Mr Rayney was charged with murder, and two years after that he was acquitted