A former Sydney tennis coach turned spiritual healer who is suing a former client for defamation over social media posts branding him a sexual predator and cult leader has told the NSW Supreme Court he “always” had full consent before touching patients.
Serge Benhayon, 54, is suing acupuncturist and former client Esther Rockett for defamation over a series of social media posts including a blog post in which Ms Rockett accuses him of subjecting her to a “sleazy ovarian reading” and touching her inappropriately.
He claims she portrayed him as the leader of a socially harmful cult and a sexual predator, saying he had subjected her to “a sleazy ovarian reading” at his clinic near Lismore.
In what must be among the most arresting opening questions ever uttered in a cross-examination.
“In the time you’ve been in this courtroom, have there been any discarnate spirits in the [room]?” Tom Molomby, SC, asked spiritual healer Serge Benhayon in the NSW Supreme Court.