Bruce Lehrmann tells court he believes Brittany Higgins's fiance sent him threatening email titled 'Coming for you'
By Patrick BellBruce Lehrmann has in court accused Brittany Higgins's fiance of sending an anonymous, threatening email to him in the lead-up to Ms Higgins going public with her rape allegation.
Key points:
- Bruce Lehrmann is suing Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson for coverage of Brittany Higgins's rape allegation
- He told the court he believes the interview, which aired on The Project, prejudiced his criminal trial
- He also accused Ms Higgins's fiance, David Sharaz, of sending an anonymous, threatening email
The former Liberal staffer is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten over an interview on The Project in 2021, in which Ms Higgins alleged she had been raped at Parliament House in 2019.
Mr Lehrmann's criminal trial was aborted due to juror misconduct and there remain no findings against him.
Today, the Federal Court discussed an email Mr Lehrmann received on January 25, 2021, titled "Coming for you".
"I want you to have a think about what you did and what might be around the corner for you," it read.
"How many people know what you did, and how many did you tell.
"How many cameras are there in Parliament House and how many people tracked down the vision."
During re-examination by his barrister Steven Whybrow this afternoon, Mr Lehrmann was asked whether, in hindsight, he had formed a view about the source of the email.
"I have a view that that was Ms Higgins's fiance, Mr David Sharaz," he said.
Mr Sharaz was present at a meeting with Ms Higgins, Wilkinson, and Network Ten producer Angus Llewellyn in the lead-up to the interview taking place.
He also escorted Ms Higgins into the Federal Court when she arrived this afternoon.
Towards the end of today's hearing, Ms Higgins was sworn in and began her testimony, detailing how she came to work in the Canberra office of former federal minister Steve Ciobo in 2018.
She will resume providing her evidence on Wednesday morning.
Bruce Lehrmann says Lisa Wilkinson prejudiced his trial
Earlier in the day, Mr Lehrmann told the Federal Court he believes Wilkinson prejudiced his criminal trial and behaved recklessly when she gave a speech after winning a Logie Award for her interview with Ms Higgins.
Under cross-examination by Wilkinson's barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC today, Mr Lehrmann said his view about her conduct remained unchanged.
But Ms Chrysanthou referred Mr Lehrmann to his comments in an interview with the Seven Network, after the findings of an ACT Board of Inquiry into his case were handed down.
Among the findings of that report, was that the ACT's former top prosecutor Shane Drumgold had "knowingly lied" to the ACT's Chief Justice about a meeting with Wilkinson about the Logies speech — something Mr Drumgold disputes.
"You said in that interview [with Seven Network] it was Mr Drumgold who deprived you of a fair trial," Ms Chrysanthou said.
"You thought that Mr Drumgold was the person who stuffed up your life and it was all because of him."
Mr Lehrmann said as a result of the findings, that was the view he held in the interview.
"Rather than feel upset at my client … you actually think that the delay caused by the Logies speech saved you from conviction," Ms Chrysanthou suggested.
Mr Lehrmann said that was "not necessarily" his position.
"They're dual purposes, I can hold more than one view," he said.
'Incoherent' that Brittany Higgins would make up rape allegation
Both Network Ten and Wilkinson opened their cases this afternoon.
In laying out Network Ten's defence, barrister Matthew Collins KC described Mr Lehrmann's claim that Ms Higgins had made up the allegation that she was raped to save her job as "incoherent".
He said if that were true, she had no incentive to go public with the allegation or to make a complaint to police.
The court heard Network Ten intends to call more than 20 witnesses, as it seeks to establish the truth of its reporting.
Wilkinson's barrister has also argued the audience had an interest in seeing the broadcast, in light of Ms Higgins having already made allegations in a story published that same morning by news.com.au's reporter Samantha Maiden.
"It's one thing reading an article in print … it's another thing to see that person answering questions and explaining or describing what occurred in colour on television," Ms Chrysanthou said.
"People had an interest in seeing Ms Higgins in the flesh make her claims."
Bruce Lehrmann questioned about engaging with journalists
Part of the cross-examination today explored whether Mr Lehrmann had any contact with journalists prior to The Project interview going to air.
Although he was not named in the program, Mr Lehrmann claims he was identifiable through the inclusion of other details.
As part of its defence, Network Ten argued it made a reasonable attempt to contact Mr Lehrmann before the broadcast on Monday, February 15, 2021.
It said that included emails from the show's producer on the prior Friday, and a follow-up on the Monday morning.
Mr Lehrmann claimed he did not see the emails until the following week, and the first contact he had with journalists was on the Monday afternoon.
But when he presented to a hospital the next day, triage notes suggest he told a nurse he had had interactions with journalists the previous morning.
Today, when questioned by Mr Collins about the notes, Mr Lehrmann denied he would have told the nurse he had interacted with journalists on the Monday morning.
In his affidavit, Mr Lehrmann said if The Project attempted to contact him, he "would have told them that the allegations were completely false and grossly defamatory".
But during his evidence yesterday, he said he agreed with advice from his friends and his lawyer not to engage with the network.
Mr Lehrmann denied the evidence was inconsistent and said the advice he had received was about general media engagement.
"Channel Ten was going to air that night, among other media reports as well," he said.
The case continues.