Actor Craig McLachlan has dropped his defamation case in opposition to 9 newspapers, the ABC and former co-star Christie Whelan Browne.
The trial had been underway for 2 weeks when McLachlan, 56, and his barrister at this time made an utility for depart to discontinue proceedings.
McLachlan was suing the ABC and 9 newspapers for publishing sexual harassment allegations from his time performing in The Rocky Horror Present musical in 2014.
McLachlan's authorized staff had spent the previous two weeks calling a number of witnesses to the stand in help of his defamation declare.
At the moment, the primary of 11 ladies was as a consequence of give proof on behalf of the media shops.
The courtroom has ordered McLachlan to pay the authorized charges of the media shops he took to trial, estimated to be round $3 million.
The jury within the case has been discharged.
"Mr McLachlan determined to not proceed any additional... It has been dropped at an finish. Completed. You're now not required," Appearing Justice Carolyn Simpson informed the courtroom.
McLachlan issued a press release the place he mentioned his resolution to discontinue the case was because of the "completely overwhelming" pressure on him and his household.
"I can't proceed to position my household beneath that pressure, and my very own psychological well being won't face up to the persevering with stress," the assertion learn.
"Ending the case now will lastly convey to an finish the 4 years now we have endured because the publications had been first made, in addition to keep away from the necessity for different witnesses to have to make sure the cross-examination course of.
"Alongside the best way, I've been by way of a felony trial, through which I used to be acquitted of all prices which had been introduced in opposition to me, and I sit up for restoring my well being and spending extra time with family and friends who've stood by me by way of this course of."
Whelan Browne's lawyer, Marina Olsen, learn a press release on behalf of her consumer exterior courtroom.
"I'm happy this declare has been withdrawn and I sit up for transferring on with my life," Olsen mentioned.
"I hope this can be a reminder that girls will rise up for themselves and one another, even when threatened by these extra highly effective."
Tory Maguire, the chief editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, mentioned the discontinuation of the defamation trial was "vindication of each McLachlan's victims and our public curiosity journalism".
"The Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC printed their investigation on Craig McLachlan in the course of the top of the #MeToo motion," Maguire wrote.
"McLachlan's declare in opposition to certainly one of his victims, Christie Whelan Browne, and the media shops, utilising Australia's defamation legal guidelines, has had a chilling impact on victims' willingness to inform their tales about different abusers, and the media's skill to report on these critical allegations.
"The victims, the media and the general public's proper to know has been broken by this case, greater than any prices order can ever repay."