Alleged former ‘cult leader’ Natasha Lakaev now living in Tasmania sues ex-follower for defamation
A former northern NSW New Age leader now based in Tasmania’s Huon Valley is suing one of her ex-followers for defamation, with a lengthy trial soon to unfold. Inside the saga >>
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A former New Age leader who now lives in Tasmania is suing one of her ex-followers for defamation, with a lengthy trial soon to unfold in Hobart.
Natasha Lakaev previously ran NSW organisation Universal Knowledge, which allegedly prophesied the world would end in December 2012 and charged followers thousands of dollars to undergo its spiritual development courses.
Ms Lakaev subsequently worked as a government-employed psychologist near Surfers Paradise, but is now the proprietor of quaint Geeveston bed and breakfast The Bears Went Over the Mountain.
She is suing her former “disciple” Carli McConkey for defamation arising from comments on Ms McConkey’s website, in her book, The Cult Effect, in newspaper articles reproduced within the book, and via social media posts.
Ms McConkey has made a number of allegations in these publications, including that she was brainwashed into believing Ms Lakaev was a reincarnation of Jesus Christ and one of 12 on the “Intergalactic Council of the Universe”.
She said Ms Lakaev claimed the world would end in 2012, and that almost everyone except her devotees would die.
In her amended statement of claim lodged with the Supreme Court of Tasmania, Ms Lakaev says Ms McConkey defamed her by describing her as “a violent extremist” who abused and physically assaulted her.
She has taken umbrage with sections of The Cult Effect, including Ms McConkey’s claims that Ms Lakaev would scream at, swear at and sometimes hit her followers, encouraged them to take drugs, was abusive towards some followers’ children, and misused her followers’ money.
Ms Lakaev has also taken aim at Ms McConkey’s claim she attempted to get one man “institutionalised”, asking him to sign over his power of attorney to collect his income protection money for herself.
Ms Lakaev claims her personal and professional reputation has been “greatly injured”, saying Ms McConkey has defamed her by claiming she was unfit to practise as a psychologist and should be deregistered, that she suffered from narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder, and that she misused her position as a psychologist to threaten Ms McConkey.
Ms Lakaev is suing for damages, legal costs and an injunction to restrain what she claims are defamatory statements against her, including those published and sold in The Cult Effect.
In her amended defence filed with the court, Ms McConkey largely admits she made the allegations against Ms Lakaev, but says all her comments were true and according to her honest opinion, which was “fair and based on proper material”.
Ms McConkey says the now Huon Valley-based former “cult” leader is an “unreliable witness in legal proceedings”, is dishonest, was the leader of a “doomsday cult”, and “likely to be a psychopath”.
In the Supreme Court of Tasmania last week, Hobart lawyer Daniel Zeeman appeared on behalf of Ms Lakaev before Justice Helen Wood, ahead of an expected three-week trial due to unfold from May 15.
Mr Zeeman said the trial would examine whether Ms Lakaev had been defamed, and if yes, whether any defences applied or whether Ms McConkey was motivated by malice.
He said Ms McConkey had admitted to making many of the allegations, but that she would use the defence of justification, which Mr Zeeman described as “the old truth defence”.
Ms McConkey, who lives interstate, will represent herself in the trial without a lawyer.
She plans to call a number of witnesses, with hopes they can be examined via video-link instead of needing to travel to Hobart.
Mr Zeeman has flagged he will oppose the calling of most of Ms McConkey’s witnesses, “because in my admission they can’t be given any relevance”.
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