This is the case where Victorian Attorney General Rob Hulls is trying to jail Raymond Hoser for publishing the truth in the "Victoria Police Corruption" books.
The case continues tomorrow.
It has had some really strange elements to it.
The prosecution side closed their case in the early afternoon, relying on little more than their original affidavit as per the original writ as posted on the internet.
The rest of the day consisted mainly of legal argument so to speak.
The prosecution lawyer(the bloke who prepared the case, but is not the "beak" for the crown in this court) is Stephen Joseph Lee.
He's a very dislikeable bloke from the VGS who early on, got into the witness box and said he was relying on a sworn affidavit by Raymond Hoser as truthful and accurate evidence.
The affidavit had been sworn in the Adam Anthony Zoccolli defamation case (Zoccolli's case failed) and detailed Hoser's role in producing the books and how many copies had been sold.
This was a plus for Hoser as it shattered the illusion that the government side had pushed a while back to the effect that Hoser was a perjurer and could not be believed in a court of law.
This is in fact quite a bombshell!
But the really big bombshell of the case was a statement by Lee (on oath) to the effect that he had not even bothered to read the "Victoria Police Corruption" books in their entirety or even the relevant chapters which included the summaries of the Waldron, Neesham, Adams and Heffey cases and the allegedly "contemptuous" statements as per the writ (which is posted on the internet).
Whether or not Lee's claims are to be believed is a moot point - the statement itself was quite unexpected (by myself, Raymond Hoser anyway), particularly as entire copies of both books had been tendered to the court as sworn exhibits.
As of close of hearing on this first day, the defence side is in the process of doing a "no case" submission before the trial judge, Geoff Eames and this will continue in the morning (Wed 24 Oct).
A large contingent of about 25 Free Speech supporters from various groups attended (mainly Whistleblowers Australia and a number of "Anarchist Groups") and were thanked by Hoser for their continued support in adversity. About half of these also held a demonstration outside the court waving placards and holding up a number of large anti-Hulls banners.
Representing Hoser's interests and those of all other law abiding freedom loving people in the court itself are lawyers, Brenton O'Loughlin (as instructing solicitor), and barristers David Perkins, Chris Maxwell (the beak), J. Manetta and P D Nicholls, all whom have taken on the case on a no-win no-fee basis in the public interest.
Representing the bad guys, Stephen Lee and Rob Hulls are Douglas Graham and John Langmead as tax-payer funded legal counsel.
The case is being transcribed and this has now been posted on the internet for students and other interested parties to read.

Sentence - final - Summary.

Sentence - final - (Written) as MS Word File.

Sentence - final - (Written) as Adobe Acrobat File.

Sentencing submissions - summary.

Sentencing submissions - (Written) as MS Word File.

Sentencing submissions - (Written) as Adobe Acrobat File.

Judgement - Guilty Verdict - appeal likely.

Judgement - (Written) as MS Word File.

Judgement - (Written) as Adobe Acrobat File.

Judgement IN COURT - (Written) as MS Word File.

Judgement - IN COURT (Written) as Adobe Acrobat File.

Day Five of Case - Summary.

Day Five of Case - Transcript as MS Word File.

Day Five of Case - Transcript as Adobe Acrobat File.

Day Four of Case - Summary.

Day Four of Case - Transcript as MS Word File (PM only).

Day Four of Case - Transcript as Adobe Acrobat File (PM only).

Day Four of Case - Transcript as MS Word File (AM only).

Day Four of Case - Transcript as Adobe Acrobat File (AM only).

Day Three of Case - Summary.

Day Three of Case - Transcript as MS Word File.

Day Three of Case - Transcript as Adobe Acrobat File.

Day Two of Case - Summary.

Day Two of Case - Transcript as MS Word File.

Day Two of Case - Transcript as Adobe Acrobat File.

Day One of Case - Summary.

Day One of Case - Transcript as MS Word File.

Day One of Case - Transcript as Adobe Acrobat File.

List of relevant legal precedents.

List of relevant legal precedents.

Defence summary for Raymond Hoser - as prepared by his lawyers.

Defence summary for Raymond Hoser - as prepared by his lawyers.

"No Case" summary for Raymond Hoser against Hulls et. al. - as prepared by his lawyers.

"No Case" summary for Raymond Hoser against Hulls et. al. - as prepared by his lawyers.

Victorian Government/Rob Hulls set to jail Hoser for telling the truth!

Melbourne media contacts - list and details.

Full Transcript of Free Speech Case and other tendered documents (449 pages in total) - as MS Word File. (1.75 mb)

Full Transcript of Free Speech Case and other tendered documents (449 pages in total) - as Adobe Acrobat File. (1 mb)