263DDefence of justification

### 263D Defence of justification > [*\[Rule 263D of Part 7 Inserted by S.R. 2007, No. 23, Applied:02 May 2007\]*](/view/html/inforce/2007-05-02/sr-2007-023#GS7@EN) > > > (1)  Subject to [rule 263C(2)](#GS263C@Gs2@EN)  – > > > > > > (a) a defence of justification under [section 15 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1957-042#GS15@EN) [Defamation Act 1957](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1957-042) is sufficiently pleaded if it alleges that the imputation in question was true; and > > > > > > > (b) a defence of justification under [section 25 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2005-073#GS25@EN) [Defamation Act 2005](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2005-073) or at common law is sufficiently pleaded if it alleges that the imputation in question was substantially true. > > > (2)  Without limiting [rule 263C](#GS263C@EN) , the particulars required by [rule 263A(1)](#GS263A@Gs1@EN) for a defence of justification under [section 15 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1957-042#GS15@EN) [Defamation Act 1957](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1957-042) , under [section 25 of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2005-073#GS25@EN) [Defamation Act 2005](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2005-073) or at common law must, unless the court orders otherwise, include particulars of the facts, matters and circumstances on which the defendant relies to establish that the imputation in question was true or substantially true.