The defamation trial of Barry Neufeld wrapped up Tuesday (Nov. 21) in Chilliwack Law Courts.

The six-day trial was the upshot of the civil lawsuit between trustee Carin Bondar and former trustee Neufeld.

Counsel for the plaintiff Susanna Quail and defence counsel Paul Jaffe presented arguments and cross examination of the two witnesses in turn.

The lawsuit alleged that former school trustee Neufeld defamed Bondar when he called her a B次元官网网址渟triptease artist.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址渟triptease artistB次元官网网址� comment about Bondar by Neufeld came 24 minutes into an hour-long internet talk show aired on Sept. 21, 2022 from Action4Canada called the Empower Hour, which was replayed in court.

Quail framed the striptease remark for the court as B次元官网网址渇alse, injurious and not defensible as fair comment.B次元官网网址�

It was hurtful and stressful for Bondar to have her reputation as an accomplished science educator wholly replaced with B次元官网网址渁n entirely fictional narrative that she is an underdog striptease artist,B次元官网网址� Quail said in court, and general and aggravated damages are being sought.

Some people actually believed the remark, and told Bondar that they had voted for her even B次元官网网址渄espite her past.B次元官网网址�

Quail clarified that BondarB次元官网网址檚 PhD dissertation focused on animal reproduction and led to an interest in popular science education.

But B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 not actually about human sexuality,B次元官网网址� Quail underlined. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about animal biology.B次元官网网址� And it often uses pop culture to B次元官网网址渆ngage viewers,B次元官网网址� she said.

The online content the science educator has produced B次元官网网址渋s mildly titillating in a silly way,B次元官网网址� Quail said.

BondarB次元官网网址檚 work has been featured worldwide on the Discovery Channel, the Science Channel, National Geographic, Scientific American and Animal One, and racked up millions of views.

Quail took the question to Neufeld: B次元官网网址淎nd it was your honest belief that the most accurate way to describe her was as a striptease artist?B次元官网网址� referring to the Sept. 21, 2022 appearance on the Empower Hour.

Neufeld responded: B次元官网网址淎mong other things, sheB次元官网网址檚 an eminent scientist who also happens to be a striptease artist.B次元官网网址�

Quail pointed out that he didnB次元官网网址檛 mention any of those other qualities.

He called the video B次元官网网址渧ulgarB次元官网网址� and clarified that on the broadcast all he said was: B次元官网网址淩ichard Procee had lost the byelection to that striptease artist.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 mention her by name,B次元官网网址� Neufeld testified.

Asked if it was his view that the Organisms Do Evolve video was B次元官网网址渁 striptease video,B次元官网网址� he replied: B次元官网网址淣ot primarily. It was a parody of Miley Cyrus song.B次元官网网址� The main purpose B次元官网网址渨as to swing back and forth naked on a wrecking ball singing B次元官网网址業 came in like a wrecking ball.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Then was it something else B次元官网网址減rimarily?B次元官网网址� Quail asked.

B次元官网网址淵es. It was a mocking insult of people who believe in creation,B次元官网网址� Neufeld said.

B次元官网网址淪o you donB次元官网网址檛 think sheB次元官网网址檚 a striptease artist?B次元官网网址� Quail later asked.

B次元官网网址淪he was on that particular occasion,B次元官网网址� Neufeld stated.

Quail said Bondar was subjected to a B次元官网网址渉ostile, argumentative, demeaning and unnecessarily lengthy cross examinationB次元官网网址� by the opposing counsel.

B次元官网网址淒efendantB次元官网网址檚 counsel asked Dr. Bondar questions that gratuitously falsely described her performance in the Organisms Do Evolve video as involving writhing on the floor, simulating orgasms and more.B次元官网网址�

Jaffe cross-examined Bondar for almost three days before putting Neufeld on the witness stand.

He contended NeufeldB次元官网网址檚 use of the descriptor B次元官网网址渟triptease artistB次元官网网址� was an B次元官网网址渉onestly held beliefB次元官网网址� mentioned in passing during the Zoom meeting of his followers.

Jaffe suggested the B次元官网网址渃ontroversyB次元官网网址� about BondarB次元官网网址檚 work pre-dated NeufeldB次元官网网址檚 comment, but she insisted it started after the comment.

Jaffe said during his cross that Bondar resisted conceding B次元官网网址渙bvious factsB次元官网网址� like the ongoing rift in the Chilliwack School District over SOGI 123.

Jaffe described Bondar under cross as B次元官网网址渆vasive, argumentative, dismissive, contradictory and confrontational.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淎nd so my friend is absolutely right. It was a long, difficult cross examination.B次元官网网址�

The three defences that counsel for Neufeld filed in connection with the suit were: justification, fair comment and qualified privilege.

Neufeld was asked why he posted BondarB次元官网网址檚 video, Organisms do Evolve, on his social media.

B次元官网网址淲ell, I thought it was a matter of public interest. I didnB次元官网网址檛 think the public should know that this was an appropriate behaviour for anyone involved in the governance or supervision of children,B次元官网网址� Neufeld testified.

It was because trustees have to maintain the B次元官网网址渉ighest morality,B次元官网网址� he noted.

The few frames of her appearing nude B次元官网网址渨as probably not as disturbing as, as some of the other lewd acts that were being performed in that video,B次元官网网址� Jaffe said.

Neufeld added: B次元官网网址淚 found all those images very disturbing.B次元官网网址�

He later said regarding BondarB次元官网网址檚 work: B次元官网网址淚 have three adult daughters, an adult stepdaughter and a granddaughter.

B次元官网网址淚 do not think Carin BondarB次元官网网址檚 behaviour online is a positive example for women. I honour and respect women, and I believe her portrayals of femininity degrades women.B次元官网网址�

Quail said: B次元官网网址淚n this case, Mr. Neufeld pled justification and relies on the defence of justification knowing that his remark about Dr. Bondar was false and misleading.B次元官网网址�

Bondar feels that her B次元官网网址測ears of hard work and accomplishmentsB次元官网网址� as a scientist and science educator have been erased, her lawyer noted.

Bondar said she felt subjected to a B次元官网网址渢irade of misogyny that would not stopB次元官网网址� and said it why women donB次元官网网址檛 often dive into politics.

B次元官网网址淒r. Bondar testified that she now has to contend with a new identity in the public realm,B次元官网网址� Quail added.

Closing arguments were heard Tuesday before Justice Michael Stephens, the presiding judge, and his decision on the matter will be forthcoming.

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