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The High Court has dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by former presidential aide Pramati Noe, her husband, Antonio Piccolo, and their company, Italian Import & Export Ltd, against the Trinidad Express Newspapers Ltd.

Justice Robin Mohammed ruled that the articles complained of were not defamatory and were protected under the principle of responsible journalism.

The case stemmed from five Express articles published between September 21 and September 29, 2016, alleging that Noe and Piccolo’s company supplied wine to then-President Anthony Carmona’s official residence, and that Noe was dismissed as his private secretary after just ten months of employment.