Mere absence of honest belief or reckless indifference as to truth or falsity, falling short of wilful blindness, is insufficient to establish the improper motive necessary to constitute malice defeating qualified privilege. A trial judge may award aggravated damages for injury to feelings even where the plaintiff does not give evidence of such injury, provided there is other evidence from which injury to feelings can be inferred. In defamation proceedings, an offer of compromise relating to 'this action' relates to the claim for damages arising from the publication, not to each separate imputation as a distinct cause of action. Criminal law principles governing identification evidence and corroboration may provide guidance in civil proceedings involving grave allegations but do not apply as such.
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