KD Knight sues Minister Tufton over alleged defamation at JLP rally

King’s Counsel (KC) KD Knight has filed a lawsuit against Jamaica’s Minister of Health, Dr. Christopher Tufton, accusing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) campaign chairman of defaming him at a recent political rally.

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The claim, submitted by the law firm Knight, Junior and Samuels to the Supreme Court on Wednesday, alleges that on August 10, Tufton “falsely, recklessly, maliciously and or without reasonable and probable cause, published and or caused to be published a manipulated audio recording purportedly to be that of claimant in which the following defamatory word were made.”

According to Knight, the audio falsely suggested he has no confidence in People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding’s ability to lead Jamaica.

According to the filing, the alleged defamatory statements were “wholly false and malicious in that the claimant has never said those words in such as context and in such an order in any forum either publicly and privately and that the defendant having caused to be published defamatory statements at the JLP mass rally was reckless and careless without considering or caring whether it to be true.”

Knight’s legal team contends that the public was deliberately misled into believing that his views aligned with claims suggesting Opposition Leader Mark Golding was not a fit and proper person to become prime minister.

The veteran attorney is seeking damages for defamation, including exemplary and aggravated damages, vindicatory damages, interest at commercial rates pursuant to the average weighted loan rates for commercial banks as published by the Bank of Jamaica, along with costs, attorney’s fees, and any other relief the Supreme Court deems appropriate.

Tufton has rejected Knight’s assertion that the recording played at the rally was fake, doctored, or altered.

“The tape is 100% genuine. I understand Mr. Knight’s embarrassment at the comment he made, but his claim that it was altered is blatantly false. If he wishes to pretend he never said it, that’s on him, but the facts are clear. His words are entirely consistent with sharp criticisms he has previously made of Mark Golding in the public domain,” Tufton said.