The legal team for Twitter gadfly Alan Davison shocked the Federal Court on Monday afternoon by dropping their qualified privilege defence and maintaining a truth defence in a vicious defamation fight against sharemarket entrepreneur Tolga Kumova.

Mr Davison, 67, better known by his Twitter handle Stock Swami, will now not have to leave New Zealand and appear as a witness for cross-examination by Sue Chrysanthou, SC, the barrister for Mr Kumova. Justice Michael Lee complained to Mr Davison’s barrister, Dauid Sibtain, about the late notice given to the court of the amended defence.