INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightAFPImage caption
Lawyers for British diver Vern Unsworth (L) said Mr Musk's tweets were "vile and false"
Tesla boss Elon Musk is due to take the stand in a Los Angeles court and face the British diving specialist he accused of
being a paedophile.Vern Unsworth was among the team credited with co-ordinating the July 2018 rescue of 12 boys trapped in a flooded cave in
The entrepreneur gave no evidence to support the comment
He is being sued for defamation
The British diver is seeking punitive and compensatory damages.Email to reporterThe outburst last year appeared to be in response to
Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai Province to help with rescue efforts
Taking to Twitter, Mr Musk said: "Sorry pedo guy, you really did ask for it."When questioned about the allegation by other Twitter users, Mr
That tweet was also later deleted
untruths and suggested I engage in a sexual act with the mini-sub, which had been built as an act of kindness and according to
He had apparently intended the comments to be off the record but did not agree that with Mr Mac prior to emailing his response
have the case thrown out of court
Image caption
Diver Vern Unsworth (R) helped bring top international cave rescuers to the mission, including Rob Harper
lawyers for Mr Unsworth do not have to prove Mr Musk acted with "actual malice", lowering the bar necessary to win the case
Jury selection is due to begin on Tuesday at 09:30 local time (17:30 GMT), with the first witnesses - Mr Musk among them - likely to be
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