Elon Musk testified at a Los Angeles federal court on Tuesday at the first day of his trial, where he’s accused of defaming British diver Vernon Unsworth.
By this time, you know the story, however, here’s a recap. When 12 boys had been trapped in a cave in Thailand, Musk flew using a mini-submarine that was specially-designed into the country to assist with the rescue. The sub wasn’t utilized and Unsworth, a British psychiatrist, asserted that it was a PR move from Musk which he would”stick his submarine where it strikes ”
Soon afterwards, Musk called Unsworth as a”pedo man ” on Twitter and afterwards wrote”Bet ya a signed buck it is true” in reaction to someone questioning his claim. A defamation lawsuit filed .
Lawyer Chat: Musk’s Lawyers Say He Was Just Joking After He Called Rescue Employee A”Pedo Guy”
At the very first day of this trial, Musk testified that he”insulted” Unsworth in reaction to the opinions the diver had created. “I did not literally mean that he was a pedophile,” Musk additional, ” the LA Times reports.
The court was revealed an email that Musk delivered concerning the issue. From the mail, the Tesla chief executive erroneously said that Unsworth’d”been traveling to or residing in Thailand for 30 to 40 decades, largely Pattaya Beach, before moving to Chiang Rai to get a child bride that had been about 12 years old at the moment.”
He also added that”Chiang Rai is famous for kid sex-trafficking.”
At a subsequent email sent to some PR man, Musk appeared to admit the error he’d made saying”I am a ***ing idiot… It was one of the toughest things I have ever done”
Attorneys for Musk assert his insult doesn’t constitute defamation. In event, Unsworth instills a little victory once the judge ruled that he isn’t a figure. The trial persists.
