A judge has decided that Australian church leaders may proceed with their legal action against a former participant who they claim claimed they used demonic or satanic forces to kidnap the woman’s daughter.
In the NSW District Court, Gerald Joseph Mphazi Nyasulu and Ulemu Sithembile Nyasulu are suing Sereana Naikelekele for slander.
While Naikelekele was a past member, they are the founders and leaders of Streams International, a prophetic ministry with operations in NSW, Queensland, and SA.
On September 8 and 9, 2021, she made a total of 12 such posts on the ministry’s Facebook page.
Today, Judge Judith Gibson denied her request to dismiss the lawsuit.
She denied an argument that the “concerns notification” that the Nyasulus’ attorneys sent in September 2021 was ineffective.
Such a notice is sent to a person who allegedly has made defamatory statements, giving them an opportunity to respond and make amends.
“I have rejected all of the defendant’s challenges to the concerns notice, which I am satisfied is valid,” the judge concluded, in refusing to dismiss the proceedings.
The plaintiffs claim that the meanings implied by the 12 posts refer to each of them using satanic or demonic power to kidnap Naikelekele’s daughter.
Her attorney said that the concerns notice’s omission of the heading “particulars of substantial injury” and its inability to show a connection between the publications and serious harm rendered their case hopeless.
While the judge acknowledged that the lack of a header might be important, she also summarised that a comprehensive investigation “demonstrates that not only exist such particulars, but there are approximately eight pages of them.”
“The general tenor of the first two pages is that the defendants’ series of posts individually and collectively caused personal distress and humiliation to the plaintiffs through their ministry, as they have been deluged with messages by the thousands of readers who saw them. ” In their eyes, the defendant made “very serious” accusations that were bad for the plaintiffs’ reputations.
Precise numbers were provided regarding the extent of publishing under the category “damage caused and ongoing. With 10,024 post interactions, 5,493 link clicks, and 4,512 people watching an embedded video for more than three seconds, it is claimed that the Facebook page has reached 28,731 people worldwide “stated the judge.
“I am happy that the seriousness and injury, both of which have been thoroughly discussed, have not been left in doubt for the defendant.
On November 10, the judge scheduled the matter for directions.
A NSW lawsuit makes an allegation of Satanic capabilities.
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