From the horse’s mouth; Lehrmann to take witness stand for first time
Bruce Lehrmann is set to give evidence under oath for the first time about what he says happened on the night he is accused of raping Brittany Higgins.
As his defamation hearing against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson enters its second day on Thursday, the law student will continue answering questions from his barrister Steven Whybrow SC.
Lehrmann is suing over a February 2021 publication on The Project where Ms Higgins was interviewed by Wilkinson.He claims that while the report did not name him, it still left him identifiable and “utterly destroyed” his reputation.
“He will seek vindication and compensation,” another of his barristers, Matthew Richardson SC, told the Federal Court.
Ms Higgins claims Lehrmann sexually assaulted her in the Parliament House office of their then-boss, former defence industry minister Linda Reynolds, in March 2019, an allegation he denies.
Mr Richardson SC said certain people had made up their minds about what happened behind closed doors in the office despite no judge or jury finding the ex-staffer guilty.
“Even to acknowledge the situation is grey will be too painful and, perhaps given the stance they have taken, too humiliating,” he said.
Lehrmann has settled two other defamation proceedings he brought against News.com.au and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over separate reports regarding the allegations brought by Ms Higgins.
The criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court over Ms Higgins’ rape allegations was derailed by juror misconduct and prosecutors did not seek a second trial because of concerns over her mental health.
A landmark report into the ACT legal system and the Higgins case was released in August, making damning findings against now ex-director of public prosecutions Shane Drumgold over his conduct during the case.
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Mr Lehrmann has separately been accused of raping another woman twice in Toowoomba in October 2021.
That criminal case is still in the committal stage and he is yet to enter a plea, but his lawyers have indicated that he denies the charges.
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National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
