8
Person charged may give evidence.
51 & 52 Vict. c. 64,
5. 9
Words imputing unchastity to woman or girl per se actionable.
54 & 55 Vict. c. 51, s. 1.
Broadcast statements.
15 & 16 Geo. 6 & 1 Eliz. 2 c. 66 s. 1.
Slander affecting official,
professional or business reputation.
15 & 16 Geo. 6 & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 66 s. 2.
Slander of title,
etc.
15 & 16 Geo. 6 & 1 Eliz. 2 c. 66 s. 3.
Unintentional defamation.
15 & 16 Geo. 6 & 1 Eliz. 2 c. 66 s. 4.
CAP. 21]
Defamation
[1986 Ed.
20. Any person charged with the offence of libel before any court of criminal jurisdiction, and the wife or husband of the person so charged, shall be competent, but not compellable, witnesses on every hearing at every stage of such charge.
(9 of 1901, s. 9, incorporated)
21. Words spoken and published which impute unchastity or adultery to any woman or girl shall not require special damage to render them actionable:
Provided that, in any action for words spoken and made actionable by this Ordinance, a plaintiff shall not recover more costs than damages, unless the judge at the trial certifies that there was reasonable ground for bringing the action.
(9 of 1901, s. 10, incorporated. Amended, 29 of 1901, s. 14, and 30 of 1911, s. 4)
22. For the purposes of the law of libel and slander, the broadcasting of words shall be treated as publication in permanent form.
(Added, 33 of 1961, s. 11)
23. In an action for slander in respect of words calculated to disparage the plaintiff in any office, profession, calling, trade or business held or carried on by him at the time of the publication, it shall not be necessary to allege or prove special damage, whether or not the words are spoken of the plaintiff in the way of his office, profession, calling, trade or business.
(Added, 33 of 1961, s. 11)
24. (1) In an action for slander of title, slander of goods or other malicious falsehood, it shall not be necessary to allege or prove special damage-
(a) if the words upon which the action is founded are calculated to cause pecuniary damage to the plaintiff and are published in writing or other permanent form; or
(b) if the said words are calculated to cause pecuniary damage to the plaintiff in respect of any office, profession, calling, trade or business held or carried on by him at the time of the publication.
(2) Section 22 shall apply for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of the law of libel and slander.
(Added, 33 of 1961, s. 11)
25. (1) A person who has published words alleged to be defamatory of another person may, if he claims that the words were published by him innocently in relation to that other person, make an offer of amends under this section; and in any such case-