Friendlyjordies has scored a victory over NSW Police as they’ve been ordered to pay costs of more than $20,000 after abandoning their attempts to remove several videos from his YouTube channel.
The NSW Police had sought a court order recently in order to remove any videos on Friendlyjordies’ YouTube channel that related to the arrest of his producer, Kristo Langker. They also wanted to stop Friendlyjordies, otherwise known as Jordan Shanks, commenting on Langker’s upcoming court case.
As reported by SMH, Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge rejected that application, stating it was defective, and ordered for it to be refiled. A solicitor for NSW Police then told the court the application would be withdrawn completely.
Milledge has ordered NSW Police to cover Shanks’ legal costs of $19,250 and Langker’s legal costs of $2,772. “That’s a reasonable conclusion today and I think that’s appropriate for all sides,” Ms Milledge said.
Langker was controversially arrested back in June and charged with two counts of stalking former NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro. YouTube videos showed Langker approaching Barilaro and speaking to him twice. He has pleaded not guilty.
Footage of Langker’s arrest by members of the Fixated Persons Unit was published on Friendlyjordies’ channel. Shanks is separately being sued by Barilaro in a defamation case.
The court was also told that Barilaro’s former chief of staff, Siobhan Hamblin, had failed to fully comply with a subpoena issued to her last month by Langker’s barrister Emmanuel Kerkyasharian to secure documents and phone records.
He said only a small number of documents were provided, which he insisted meant a warrant should be issued for Hamblin’s arrest for non-compliance.
In response, Hamblin’s lawyers stated that she had been required to return all devices to the government upon Barilaro’s resignation. Kerkyasharian pointed out, however, that the subpoena was issued at least four days before that resignation.
After several attempts to contact Hamblin’s lawyers, Milledge conceded that proceedings should begin to issue a warrant for her arrest. “It comes down to the court has been disrespected,” she said.
This is a developing story as the hearing continues.
