Former barrister Lloyd Rayney has lost a bid to boost his defamation payout after WA Police erroneously named him the “prime” and “only” suspect in his estranged wife’s murder – but he did have a minor victory.
Despite dismissing the main claim on Tuesday, the WA Court of Appeal upheld Mr Rayney’s appeal regarding interest awarded on his past earnings, meaning he will additionally receive approximately $160,000.
Mr Rayney commenced defamation proceedings after Detective Senior Sergeant Jack Lee had erroneously described him as the “prime” and “only” suspect in Corryn Rayney’s murder during a press conference in September 2007.
Mr Rayney, 60, won his defamation case in December 2017 and was granted a then-record $2.62m.
Justice John Chaney said at the time the detective’s comments “in their entirety, bore the imputation that the plaintiff murdered his wife” but police did not have “reasonable grounds to suspect” Mr Rayney.
Despite the win, Mr Rayney launched an appeal, arguing the judge had made errors and he should be entitled to a higher award for damages for economic loss.
“(Firstly), he contends that the judge erred on the question of causation by not awarding him damages for economic loss after the date on which he was charged with murder,” the judgment on Tuesday read.
“(And secondly), in failing to award him interest on economic loss during the period in which the judge had found that he had sustained economic loss.
“The grounds alleging error on the question of causation should be dismissed and the ground alleging error in relation to interest should be upheld.”
Ms Rayney’s body was found buried at Kings Park in August 2007 – less than two weeks after xjmtzywshe went missing following a bootscooting class.
Mr Rayney was charged with murdering the Supreme Court registrar, but was found not guilty in 2012 following a judge-alone trial.
He also had a phone interception case thrown out of court in 2015.
But Mr Rayney was eventually struck off as a lawyer after he was found to have secretly recorded his wife’s conversations and gave misleading evidence about it in court.
Following a lengthy legal battle to remain on the roll of practitioners, Mr Rayney gave up the fight in the WA Supreme Court in April 2020.
Mr Rayney’s legal career began in the mid-1980s and he was the second in charge of the Director of Public Prosecutions for years, before becoming a defence barrister in 2005.
Ms Rayney’s murder remains unsolved.
