Heston Russell did not take up offer to talk to ABC journalist about article, court told

Mark Willacy tells defamation trial he was ‘prepared at any time to have a chat’ with former commando, who is suing the broadcaster

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ABC journalist Mark Willacy offered to sit down and talk to Heston Russell about an article he was upset about but the former commando did not take up the offer, the federal court has heard.

Under cross-examination by barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC, Willacy denied he did not want to engage with Russell and said he had made the offer of coffee and a chat when he met the former soldier once in person.

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