Court hears Natasha Lakaev convinced members world would end

Natasha Lakaev, who ran the Universal Knowledge organisation in Northern NSW in the early 2000s, is suing former organisation member Carli McConkey for libel.

Ms McConkey published a book about her experiences as a member of the organisation, and Ms Lakaev, who now runs a Geeveston bed and breakfast, has claimed defamation.

On Monday, Ms McConkey, who is representing herself in court against the claim, attempted to submit the documents of a Queensland defamation case in which Ms Lakaev similarly sued others regarding claims they made about Universal Knowledge.

Ms McConkey told the court on Monday that the Queensland Supreme Court documents included numerous imputations against Ms Lakaev, including that she had brainwashed organisation members, convinced them that she was 'Queen of Atlantis' and that the world would end in 2012.

The documents also imputed that Ms Lakaev had physically assaulted and imprisoned members, convinced them to pay thousands of dollars to her and had worked for 22 hours per day without pay for years.

The documents also imputed that Ms Lakaev convinced Ms McConkey to undergo sterilisation, the court heard.

Counsel for Ms Lakaev, Daniel Zeeman, said the court needed to see full copies of the Queensland documents, including annexures, before the case could continue.

Justice Helen Wood adjourned the case until Tuesday.

Ms Lakaev is suing Ms McConkey following the publication of her book, 'The Cult Effect', in 2017 and various other blog posts since then.

Ms McConkey has previously claimed that she spent 13 years as a member of Ms Lakaev's organisation.

She has previously said that while a member, she believed that Ms Lakaev was a reincarnation of Jesus Christ and one of 12 on the "Intergalactic Council of the Universe", and that the world would end in either 2011 or 2012.

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