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Key PointsBrittany Higgins took the stand in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case.Lehrmann introduced the case in opposition to Community Ten.Higgins will proceed to offer testimony this week.
This story accommodates references to sexual assault
Brittany Higgins has stepped into the witness field in a Federal Courtroom defamation case introduced by Bruce Lehrmann in opposition to Community Ten.
Bruce Lehrmann says he paid a late-night go to to Parliament Home to keep away from getting his then-girlfriend away from bed on the evening Brittany Higgins alleges she was raped there.
A barrister for the broadcaster Lehrmann is suing says the previous Liberal staffer has offered numerous lies on the topic.
He was criminally charged in August 2021 in relation to Higgins’ allegation that she was raped within the parliamentary workplace of senator Linda Reynolds in March 2019.
Lehrmann has constantly denied the allegation, and his prison trial within the ACT Supreme Courtroom was derailed by juror misconduct.
Prosecutors didn’t search a second trial, citing issues for Higgins’ psychological well being.
Bruce Lehrmann arrives on the Federal Courtroom of Australia as his defamation instances in opposition to Community Ten proceed. Supply: AAP / Dean Lewins
Lehrmann is suing Community Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson within the Federal Courtroom, claiming their interview with Higgins on The Mission in February 2021 defamed him.
A deliberate, aware and cautious determination was made to not title Lehrmann within the report that Ten’s barrister Matthew Collins KC says was not about him.
The theme of this system and most of its time was dedicated to exposing alleged inadequacies in how Higgins’ allegations had been managed by the earlier authorities, Collins stated.
The general public curiosity within the report was “amply demonstrated” by following occasions together with a overview into parliament’s office tradition, which reported in November 2021.
Lehrmann had been criminally charged by then however didn’t learn that report.
However he heard then-prime minister Scott Morrison apologise to Higgins in his “silly parliament speech” months later, he advised the court docket on Tuesday.
Collins stated Lehrmann had given a spread of lies about his causes for being in Parliament Home with Higgins after the pair had been out ingesting.
It got here after Lehrmann completed a four-day stint within the witness field on Tuesday afternoon, when his barrister requested him why it was so vital to return to Parliament Home to get his keys as he had claimed.
Lehrmann cited the cumbersome nature of stepping into his constructing, which might have required his then-girlfriend to get away from bed.
“Did she know you had ‘kicked on’, to make use of your expression,” Justice Michael Lee requested.
“I am unsure, I am unable to bear in mind now, Your Honour,” Lehrmann responded.
Along with the printed program, Lehrmann alleges Wilkinson acted in a “high-handed and reckless method” and prejudiced his approaching trial in a speech she made on the Logies in June 2022.
Lehrmann later gave interviews with rival media firm Seven Community and stated the Logies speech and the related delay afforded his legal professionals the chance to dig deeper.
He disagreed when Wilkinson’s lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC prompt he thought the delay saved him from conviction, and maintained he had been prejudiced.
Lehrmann stated Seven Community paid for lodging in areas the place the filming passed off, however advised the court docket he didn’t understand how a lot it had value.
Chrysanthou stated the funds had been to proceed from June this 12 months till June 2024.
Lehrmann has settled separate defamation proceedings in opposition to Information.com.au and the ABC over their reviews about Higgins’ allegations.
Higgins watched on as Collins and Chrysanthou set out the defence instances on Tuesday afternoon earlier than briefly moving into the witness field, describing how she started working in politics after campaigning at college.
“I needed to work my method up the ranks,” Higgins stated.
She is anticipated to proceed giving proof on Wednesday.
For those who or somebody you understand is impacted by sexual assault, name 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or go to . In an emergency, name 000.
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