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| Elon Musk testifies in California 'pedo guy' court case | Elon Musk testifies in California 'pedo guy' court case |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Tesla founder Elon Musk has appeared in court in California to answer a lawsuit brought by a British cave diver he called "pedo guy" on Twitter. | Tesla founder Elon Musk has appeared in court in California to answer a lawsuit brought by a British cave diver he called "pedo guy" on Twitter. |
| Vernon Unsworth, who helped rescue 12 boys trapped in a Thai cave last year, is suing for defamation. | Vernon Unsworth, who helped rescue 12 boys trapped in a Thai cave last year, is suing for defamation. |
| Mr Musk, the first to testify at the Los Angeles court, said Mr Unsworth had insulted him, so he insulted him back. | Mr Musk, the first to testify at the Los Angeles court, said Mr Unsworth had insulted him, so he insulted him back. |
| He said the "pedo guy" tweet was not meant to be taken literally. | He said the "pedo guy" tweet was not meant to be taken literally. |
| Mr Unsworth's legal team have described Mr Musk's tweet as "vile and false" and are seeking punitive damages. | Mr Unsworth's legal team have described Mr Musk's tweet as "vile and false" and are seeking punitive damages. |
| The Tesla and SpaceX billionaire posted the tweet, since deleted, after Mr Unsworth publicly rejected his proposal to use a mini-submarine to rescue the boys - members of a football team who became trapped deep inside a cave in northern Thailand in June 2018. | |
| In a TV interview at the time, Mr Unsworth dismissed the idea as a PR stunt and suggested the American "stick his submarine where it hurts". | In a TV interview at the time, Mr Unsworth dismissed the idea as a PR stunt and suggested the American "stick his submarine where it hurts". |
| This prompted a series of tweets from Mr Musk, including one describing Mr Unsworth as a "pedo guy". | This prompted a series of tweets from Mr Musk, including one describing Mr Unsworth as a "pedo guy". |
| In his court testimony, Mr Musk said Mr Unsworth's comments to CNN were "wrong and insulting, and so I insulted him back." | In his court testimony, Mr Musk said Mr Unsworth's comments to CNN were "wrong and insulting, and so I insulted him back." |
| What Mr Unsworth said on television was "unprovoked attack on what was a good-natured attempt to help the kids", Mr Musk said. | What Mr Unsworth said on television was "unprovoked attack on what was a good-natured attempt to help the kids", Mr Musk said. |
| He told the court he had thought Mr Unsworth "was just some random creepy guy" and "unrelated to the rescue". | He told the court he had thought Mr Unsworth "was just some random creepy guy" and "unrelated to the rescue". |
| The Tesla boss apologised directly to the cave diver in court, looking directly at him. | The Tesla boss apologised directly to the cave diver in court, looking directly at him. |
| "I apologised in a tweet and again in the deposition, and I'll say it again - I apologise to Mr Unsworth," he said. | "I apologised in a tweet and again in the deposition, and I'll say it again - I apologise to Mr Unsworth," he said. |
| In a filing as part of a failed request to have the case thrown out of court Mr Musk had suggested that in South Africa, where he grew up, the term "pedo guy" is a common insult meaning "creepy old man" and does not accuse someone of paedophilia. Mr Unsworth's legal team say this is "offensive to the truth". | In a filing as part of a failed request to have the case thrown out of court Mr Musk had suggested that in South Africa, where he grew up, the term "pedo guy" is a common insult meaning "creepy old man" and does not accuse someone of paedophilia. Mr Unsworth's legal team say this is "offensive to the truth". |
| The judge has denied the defence's request to define Mr Unsworth as a "public figure" - meaning lawyers for Mr Unsworth do not have to prove Mr Musk acted with "actual malice", lowering the bar necessary to win the case. | The judge has denied the defence's request to define Mr Unsworth as a "public figure" - meaning lawyers for Mr Unsworth do not have to prove Mr Musk acted with "actual malice", lowering the bar necessary to win the case. |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |