“Defamation” suit against Underbelly

Here we go again.

Updated: Former NSW Police Constable Wendy Hatfield has launched proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court against the Nine Network, claiming she has been intimately linked with John Ibrahim in the upcoming Underbelly series.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the former officer argues the series is based on the book Underbelly: The Golden Mile which defames her in chapter three by claiming she “had a sexual relationship with John Ibrahim, knowing him to be a notorious criminal”. Ms Hatfield, who now lives in Victoria, was linked to Ibrahim in the Wood Royal Commission in 1996.

A barrister is now seeking access to five episodes of the Nine series before it goes to air, with a plan to taking out an injunction if it is defamatory.

“Constable Wendy” is played by actress Jessica Tovey in the upcoming series, which does not yet have an airdate.

The article notes Ms. Hatfield has not seen any of the drama’s episodes.

The first series of Underbelly did not air in full in the state of Victoria due to pending legal cases, but it made the series hot all over rest of the country with constant headlines in the newspapers.

Justice Ian Harrison is expected to hand his decision down on Friday week.

Source: Daily Telegraph