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Dust from Ground Zero, a video of a collapsing building on repeat, and scientists discussing Galilei's theory of free fall. Copenhagen's 9/11 libel case court drama had it all. Decision due in four weeks time
The journalist Søren K. Villemoes seemed confident coming out of the courtroom. But his counterpart, the University of Copenhagen's former associate professor Niels Harrit, though expressing optimism to the University Post, seemed unhappy with the performance of his star witness.
This is the short conclusion after a four-hour long court drama in the Eastern High Court (Østre Landsret) in Copenhagen. The issue? Whether it was in the realm of press freedoms of speech for journalist Søren K. Villemoes from Weekendavisen to call Niels Harrit, associate professor, a ‘crackpot’ [in Danish, 'tosse', ed.] in an opinion piece. The wider issue is whether the World Trade Center building collapsed from fire, or by a controlled demolition, as Niels Harrit has argued.
Søren Villemoes was not surprised about what went on in the courtroom. "I would be surprised if this higher court does not confirm the lower court's ruling after today," he said to the University Post subsequent to the proceedings.
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