McLachlan drops defamation suit

Craig McLachlan has dropped his defamation case just as witnesses were due to testify about sexual assault and harassment claims made against him. The actor says his mental health will not withstand the pressure of the case, which began on May 9 in the NSWSupreme Court. He had sued the ABC, Fairfax and former colleague Christie Whelan Browne over the claims relating to female performers in the 2014 stage production of The Rocky Horror Show. His case finished on Thursday and the defendantswere due to begin calling their witnesses yesterday. But Acting Justice Carolyn Simpson discharged the jury after the actor’s barrister Kieran Smark SC applied for leave to discontinue proceedings. She told jurors that the actor had decided not to proceed further.