Barrister (addressing the court):
Let’s begin with the CEO of Auric Mining.
Mr. English, you acquired lithium rights from WIN Metals for a modest sum of $30,000. Is that correct?
And just weeks later—after Estrella Resources raised objections—you rescinded that purchase and quietly accepted a refund. Now tell the court:
Was that a coincidence… or a legal strategy to avoid liability?
You say there is no dispute with Estrella. But that only became true after you backpedaled and returned the lithium rights. So I ask again:
Did your legal team advise you that you were exposed?
You sold this to the market as a “win-win,” yet you were prepared to walk away for the same amount as a used Hilux. Why?
Because you knew that Estrella’s claim had merit. You knew that WIN Metals may not have had clean title to sell those rights in the first place.
You didn’t buy certainty — you bought risk. Then you sold it back the moment the spotlight hit.
Now to you, Mr. Haythorpe of WIN Metals:
You sold lithium rights to a third party — while knowing full well there was a prior agreement in place with Estrella Resources.
Did you disclose to Auric the full extent of Estrella’s historical claims and royalty arrangements over that tenement?
Did you disclose that Estrella retained interests in the Munda area under a previously documented joint venture?
Or were you simply hoping no one would dig deep enough to question it — until Estrella forced your hand?
Because now we have a live legal case… and a disturbing pattern:
A hasty lithium deal,
A swift rescission and refund,
And a public attempt to distance yourselves from any liability — while claiming it’s business as usual.
But let me remind you — corporate spin does not shield you from judicial scrutiny.
This case is no longer just about lithium, or royalties, or semantics. It’s about whether two ASX-listed companies misrepresented the certainty of mineral rights in a deal that never should’ve happened.
And until this matter is resolved — either by settlement or by court ruling — the entire Munda project is under legal fog.
If this case proceeds, and Estrella’s claims are upheld, then every ounce mined at Munda may come under question — and so might your right to mine it at all.
The question now isn’t whether investors believe you.
The question is: Will the court?
(20min delay)