Ex-Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai asks for jury trial in libel claim against pro-Beijing paper
Lai accuses state-owned newspaper Ta Kung Pao of maliciously undermining his reputation by suggesting he will jump bail in court cases
Lai’s legal counsel on Thursday argued the Apple Daily founder’s prominent social status and Ta Kung Pao’s wide circulation and readership called for ordinary members of the public to determine the factual disputes of the case.
“Given the respective positions of [the plaintiff] and [the first defendant] in society, there is a huge public interest in the fair resolution of this dispute,” lawyers said in their written submissions to the High Court.
They added the jury, despite the 881-page document expected to be involved in the trial, would face no difficulty in deciding on the plaintiff’s contention that Ta Kung Pao made groundless accusations against Lai in an “inflammatory” article published on June 25, 2020.
Madam Justice Queenie Au Yeung Kwai-yue said she would decide on the issue within October before the case proceeded further.
