Bruce Lehrmann was instructed in a textual content message he was “up for a lot of money” after Brittany Higgins made allegations within the media that she was raped in Parliament House, a court docket has heard.
Mr Lehrmann earlier this 12 months launched Federal Court defamation proceedings towards Network Ten, in addition to journalist Lisa Wilkinson, and News Life Media, owned by NewsCorp, and journalist Samantha Maiden.
Wearing a black swimsuit and purple tie, Mr Lehrmann arrived on the Federal Court flanked by his attorneys on Thursday morning.
After pleading not responsible to sexually assaulting former colleague Ms Higgins, Mr Lehrmann stood trial within the ACT Supreme Court earlier than it was aborted resulting from juror misconduct.
The prices had been subsequently dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions and he has frequently denied any allegation he sexually assaulted Ms Higgins at Parliament House in March 2019.
Both Ten and News Life Media have opposed an software by Mr Lehrmann’s counsel to be allowed an extension of the one-year limitation interval during which to deliver his declare.
Mr Lehrmann is suing over the protection of the allegations made by Ms Higgins in tales printed on February 15, 2021 – tales which at the moment are over two years previous.
Mr Lehrmann has argued that he delayed bringing proceedings due to authorized recommendation, the legal proceedings and well being points.
The events appeared earlier than Justice Michael Lee on Thursday to determine whether or not to grant Mr Lehrmann an extension of time.
The court docket heard that Ms Wilkinson, Ten and News Life Media would depend on textual content messages despatched by Mr Lehrmann across the time allegations had been first made in publications in February 2021.
Ms Wilkinson’s barrister Sue Chrysanthou instructed the court docket that there have been textual content messages discussing the legal proceedings during which Mr Lehrmann stated “I’ll never be charged” and he had “nothing to worry about”.
Ms Chrysanthou instructed the court docket he additionally acquired messages to the impact: “You’ve been defamed and you’re up for a lot of money”.
The court docket heard he additionally stated in messages: “If I’m named tonight, I’m up for millions”.
Ms Chrysanthou argued that Mr Lehrmann shouldn’t be granted an extension given he didn’t have pending legal prices for half of the limitation interval.
Mr Lehrmann claims the articles and broadcasts aboout Ms Higgins’ allegations conveyed 4 defamatory meanings that he “raped Brittany Higgins in Defence Minister Linda Reynolds’ office in 2019”, though he was not named.
He says the article defamed him by implying he “continued to rape Brittany Higgins after she woke up mid-rape and she was crying and telling him to stop” and “left her on a couch in a state of undress”, which he says is fake.
In their defences filed with the Federal Court, each News Life Media and Network 10 have stated they might depend on a defence of fact and certified privilege and show Ms Higgins’ allegations.
News Life Media says the imputations put ahead by Mr Lehrmann are true as a result of he was “sexually attracted” to Ms Higgins, touched her familiarly, noticed her drunk and signed her into Parliament House.
Its defence says Ms Maiden undertook intensive investigations earlier than publishing any tales, together with an in depth face-to-face interview, a file of data, pictures, audio recordings, emails and textual content messages.
News Life Media says Maiden took intensive care to keep away from figuring out Mr Lehrmann by not naming or describing him.
Network Ten additionally filed its defence, saying it will additionally depend on a defence of fact and certified privilege.
Ten has argued in its defence that employees made “reasonable attempts” to get Mr Lehrmann’s aspect of the story earlier than it broadcast Wilkinson’s interview with Ms Higgins.
In the doc, it says a producer known as, texted and emailed Mr Lehrmann on 5 events from Friday, February 12 to Monday, February 15, 2021.
The producer emailed an handle for Mr Lehrmann, supplied by Ms Higgins’ associate David Sharaz, during which he requested 16 questions, together with: “Did you take Ms Higgins to Australian Parliament House after the drinks?” and “Did you rape Brittany Higgins as alleged?”
Mr Lehrmann has not but responded to the allegations contained within the defences.
Justice Michael Lee on Thursday dominated towards Ms Wilkinson’s authorized staff’s try to be granted entry to a Cellebrite obtain of Mr Lehrmann’s cell phone.
The extract of the cellphone was obtained by the AFP throughout legal proceedings, the court docket heard.
Mr Lehrmann has relied on textual content messages which he says he acquired after the publication of Ms Higgins’ allegations during which he was requested if he was the particular person in query.
Ms Chrystanthou stated the messages went to Mr Lehrmann’s frame of mind on the time.
However Justice Lee described it as a “fishing expedition” and stated the discover to supply was too broad.
“I’m not allowing this application to be a proxy for production of vast reams of material which are not relevant to this application,” Justice Lee stated.
The interlocutory listening to continues.
Source: www.news.com.au
