In South Australia, a defendant in a defamation action may not plead and justify a meaning different from that pleaded by the plaintiff unless the alternative meaning is one on which the plaintiff might himself obtain a verdict — that is, a mere shade or nuance of the pleaded meaning. The Polly Peck defence as stated by O'Connor LJ is not available. Particulars of justification must be reasonably capable of proving the specific imputation pleaded by the plaintiff; proof of general professional incompetence cannot support justification of an imputation limited to a specific area of practice.
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