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045607 AI generated

Portuguese court allows press freedom defense when public official acts within duty, uses least harmful means, and claims truth.

Case Number 045607
Court / Authority
Jurisdiction Portugal (PT)
Decision Date
Outcome Partially Allowed
Open official source Machine-readable Markdown (.md)

Legislator summary

AI generated

The court partially allowed the appeal regarding an abuse of press freedom charge against a public official. The defendant argued that the defamatory statements were made in the exercise of their public function, were truthful, and utilized the least damaging medium available. The court ruled that such justification is only valid if the agent acted within their official duties, chose the least harmful means, and the imputations were true or verified after fulfilling the duty of clarification, placing the burden of proof on the accused.

Legislator headnote

Official

ABUSO DE LIBERDADE DE IMPRENSA ARGUIDO ÓNUS DA PROVA

Keywords

AI generated
abuse of press freedom public official duty burden of proof truth verification least harmful means defamation defense Constitutional rights

Cited Legislation

AI generated
Art. 24.º da Lei de Imprensa
Art. 10.º da Convenção Europeia dos Direitos do Homem

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Full text

[Nº CONVENCIONAL] JSTJ00027985 [Nº DO DOCUMENTO] SJ199509200456073 [PRIVACIDADE] 1 [PROCESSO NO TRIBUNAL RECURSO] 3795/92 [REFERENCIA DE PUBLICACAO] BMJ N449 ANO1995 PAG51 [REFERENCIAS INTERNACIONAIS] CONV EUR DH ART10 N1 N2. [TEXTO INTEGRAL] N [TRIBUNAL RECURSO] T REL LISBOA [URL] https://www.dgsi.pt/jstj.nsf/954f0ce6ad9dd8b980256b5f003fa814/6ED92ABCFC84EC83802568FC003B04C1?OpenDocument

SUMÁRIO

I - Apenas se pode julgar justificada a ofensa à honra do ofendido cometida por meio de imprensa, com base no exercício do direito fundamental de informação, quando o agente tenha actuado dentro da sua função pública, tenha utilizado o meio concretamente menos danoso e que as imputações sejam verdadeiras ou como tais tomadas depois de cumprido o dever de esclarecimento.

II - Impende sobre o arguido o ónus da prova dessas circunstâncias.