A defamation trial brought by Bruce Lehrmann will move into its next stage as Ten seeks to defend against his claims the broadcaster’s report on Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation was defamatory.
As the Federal Court trial continues on Tuesday, Ten producer Angus Llewellyn will take the stand followed by high-profile journalist Lisa Wilkinson, if time permits.
Llewellyn and Wilkinson are part of a qualified privilege defence brought against Lehrmann’s case in which he is seeking significant damages over a February 2021 report on The Project.
In that television segment, Wilkinson interviewed Ms Higgins over her claim she was sexually assaulted by Lehrmann in the Parliament House office of their then boss Senator Linda Reynolds in March 2019.
Lehrmann has consistently denied the allegation, saying no sexual contact occurred between them.
Under a qualified privilege defence, a broadcaster typically tries to show they had a duty or interest in broadcasting certain statements and their audience had an interest in being informed of those matters.
The trial has so far called a parade of people to testify including Parliament House colleagues, police officers and Ms Higgins’ family members as Ten seeks to prove the truth of her claims.
Witnesses have described seeing Ms Higgins distraught after the alleged rape, telling the court about dramatic changes in her personality as she grappled with the emotional and professional toll of what she claimed occurred.
Ms Higgins initially declined to go to police to file an official complaint, claiming she had experienced pressure to keep quiet so she could retain her job working for the Liberal party.
Lehrmann was charged in August 2021 over the alleged rape, but his criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court was derailed by juror misconduct.
Prosecutors did not seek a second trial, citing concerns for Ms Higgins’ mental health.
Lehrmann is also before Queensland courts accused of raping another woman twice in Toowoomba in October 2021.
He has not yet entered a plea, but his lawyers have indicated he denies the charges.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
