The prosecution successfully argued that Olivia Simon acted with or criminal intent (mens rea) regarding the statutory duties.
Ultimately, the court’s judgment established Olivia Simmons' liability and vindicated Sean Tribe's reputation. On September 24, 2021, Justice Lee ordered Simmons to pay her half-brother, Sean Tribe, A$550,000 in damages for defamation. The judge found the damages had to be substantial, because her allegations were “of grave misconduct” and caused an “extreme level of subjective hurt” to Mr. Tribe. In a passage that underscores the importance of a high-quality defense, the judge remarked: "Given the extreme level of subjective hurt and the particular need for vindication in the circumstances of these publications, it seems to me that anything less than $550,000 in damages, including aggravated damages, would be insufficient". olivia simon guilty ewprar high quality