As Crikey reporters Stephen Mayne and Sophie Vorrath prepare to head
down to the Federal Court tomorrow to cover the Vizard hearing, Blair Speedy reports in The Australian
that ASIC’s case against the former Telstra director is “full of
holes.” In a directions hearing, Federal Court judge Ray Finklestein
said that documents filed jointly by ASIC and Vizard’s lawyers were
missing “key facts” needed for the case.

And while Vizard is expected to tender a statement at the hearing, he
is not likely to “utter a word in his own defence,” according to John
Ferguson and Christine Caulfield
in the Herald Sun. Vizard’s defence
lawyer, James Judd, QC, told the directions hearing that a statement by
Vizard will be read to the court, along with statements from character
witnesses including his brother Andrew, and National Gallery of
Victoria director, Gerard Vaughan.

Meanwhile, The Age
reports that Vizard’s day in court is likely to be low-key, thanks to
his choice of commercial barrister, James Judd, QC, who is described
as “quietly spoken.” So there aren’t likely to be any courtroom
theatrics from Vizard, and he
won’t be contesting the civil charges, though four witnesses will be
available for the court, according to Judd. In a separate report,
Treasurer Peter Costello has said he wouldn’t appoint Vizard to any
public position, because his behaviour as Telstra director was “not
becoming.”

Stay tuned for Crikey’s reports on the action from the courtroom, tomorrow.