Marlon Samuels files defamation case against Geoff Lawson
Jul 5, 2016 at 5:07 PM
West Indies’ all-rounder Marlon Samuels has taken former Australian player Geoff Lawson to court. The controversial all-rounder has filed a defamation case against Geoff Lawson for ‘erroneous, malicious and unjustifiable comments’ that the former pacer had made about Samuels.
Speaking on the Big Sports Breakfast radio program after the World Twenty20 final in April, the former Pakistan coach accused Samuels of having a connection with gangs in Jamaica.
“He’s tied up with some shady people back in the West Indies….he’s a guy you don’t muck around with on or off the field. He’s from Kingston, Jamaica, it’s one of the murder capitals of the world…he’s tied up with gangs there, it goes well beyond cricket,” Lawson is quoted as having told the radio podcast in the statement.
Lawson is not the only person facing the heat. News.com.au journalist James Matthey, who published a news story on the website news.com.au, accusing Samuels of ‘being involved with criminal gangs in Jamaica’, has also been included in the lawsuit.
In a statement Samuels has stated that he has found the comments defamatory and deeply offensive.
“Samuels has no criminal record nor has been the subject of any criminal investigations. The comments were published and aired with the absence of conducting proper journalist research, nor where Samuels contacted to give his views on the damaging remarks about his character,” it reads.
Samuels is quoted saying, “Through this case, I intend not only to defend my integrity and my image as an international cricketer but also the values I have defended all my career. I also wish to avoid any public figure from making insulting or false allegations against an athlete using the media, without any evidence or foundation and to go unpunished.”
“If I win this case any compensation awarded I will donate some of the proceeds to the Marlon Samuels Society for the Blind in Jamaica,” he adds.
“Samuels has no criminal record nor has been the subject of any criminal investigations. The comments were published and aired with the absence of conducting proper journalist research, nor where Samuels contacted to give his views on the damaging remarks about his character,” it reads.