Ch. 5 apologizes to newspaper editor

An out of court settlement has been reached in a libel suit involving a newspaper editor and this television station. Audrey Matura Tillett, editor of the Guardian, had filed the action last year against Channel Five and it went to trial on Monday in the Supreme Court before Justice Murray Shanks. After calling witnesses Karla Heusner, Marion Ali and Michael Rudon, the defense proposed a settlement, which was accepted by the plaintiff. Under the terms of the agreement, Channel Five will pay Matura Tillett the sum of one thousand, five hundred dollars and broadcasts the following apology: “On the thirteenth of May 1999, Great Belize Productions Ltd., on its Channel Five TV newscast published a news item alleging that Audrey Matura Tillett had circulated an untrue rumour about then Belize Times Editor Michael Rudon. Great Belize Productions Ltd., hereby acknowledges that we ought not to have made the allegation against Ms. Matura Tillett. We therefore apologize to her and regret any inconvenience or embarrassment she may have suffered as a result of our said publication.”