Acquittal for French-speaking Swiss journalist after defamation charge

The trial concerned a plagiarism affair at the University of Neuchâtel. The journalist had to stand trial for three articles in the newspaper Le Matin for defamation offenses. He had accused a professor from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Neuchâtel of plagiarism in connection with a book.

The court quickly ruled out the charge of defamation, said judge Muriel Barrelet at the opening of the verdict on Monday. The charge of defamation was also disregarded because, in the court's opinion, the journalist was able to prove the truth of the majority of the facts described. In the indictment, the public prosecutor Nicolas Aubert had demanded a conditional fine of 45 daily rates of 140 francs each with a probation period of two years. The professor's lawyer had also demanded a conviction. (SDA)