All times AEDT (GMT +11). Alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann, who numerous women have accused of sexual harassment and/or assault, has instituted defamation proceedings against Channel 10, News Corp and journalists Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden. Should this case reach that point at trial, it would be up to Justice Michael Lee to decide whether Ms Wilkinson's lawyers can prove the alleged rape occurred. Categories: Kerry Stokes, Seven West Media, Tagged as: Brittany Higgins, Bruce Lehrmann, Kerry Stokes, Seven West Media, Reynolds has no integrity nor reputation to defend And speaking of Political interference Morrison started that with his speeches and snide accusations along with his lies whilst on the floor in Parliament. AAP-March 1, 2023. That standard of proof is significantly lower than what is required in a criminal trial, where a person must only be found guilty if an allegation is proven beyond reasonable doubt. About Us. And be notified immediately when there is a new article published. Ms Cleaves said Ms Higgins had told Mr Lehrmann her address when the pair got into the Uber, but when they arrived at Parliament House it had caused her some surprise. Bruce received his PhD in Engineering from USC. The independent inquiry into the trial of Bruce Lehrmann, who had been accused of raping Brittany Higgins, is currently scheduled to start its public hearings on 26 April. He is a former instructor of graduate level classes for Loyola Marymount University, Antioch University, and Pepperdine University on the psychology of individual and group development. The jury in the rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann is yet to reach a verdict, telling ACT Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucy McCallum it needs more time. Brittany Higgins alleged rapist But I suspect, given Lehrmann is using the same lawyers as Ben Roberts-Smith, he has likely recently burnt his laptop and USB sticks etc like Ben Roberts-Smith did. Furthermore, Ms Wilkinson's lawyers have argued that the 12-month limitation period normally required to launch a defamation case in Australia should not be extended. Alex Ellinghausen. The television host's lawyers note Ms Wilkinson did not name Mr Lehrmann in February 2021, or at any stage before he was charged in August that year, arguing that approach in fact "indicates the contrary of an intent to injure him". Keep that whistle blowing. The lawsuits also name journalists Lisa Lisa Wilkinson will have to prove Brittany Higgins was raped by Bruce Lehrmann as a truth defence to his defamation claim against her and Channel 10. Mr Lehrmann is suing Ms Wilkinson and her employer, Network Ten, alleging they defamed him in a February 2021 story that revealed Ms Higgins' claims. courts Australia national media Brittany Higgins CONTACT US He has more than 30 years of real estate experience in Southern California, including acquisition, development, construction and management. Bruce Lehrmann outside the Magistrates Court in Canberra, with his lawyers. Your trusted partner for property management, construction & investment. Bruce Heller, Ph.D. has taught courses on a wide range of psychological subjects at the following Southern California educational institutions: Dr. Heller holds a Ph.D. and a Masters Degree in education from the University of Southern California where he researched the attitudes, characteristics, and thinking patterns of high achievers. A dispute between the ACT's chief prosecutor and its police force is continuing, with the release of a letter alleging officers interfered in the now-abandoned rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann. Your digital subscription includes access to content from all our websites in your region. Ms Wilkinson's lawyers say that at no time did she sense Ms Higgins' allegations were false. In order for Ms Wilkinson to win the defamation case, she will have to prove the rape took place on the balance of probabilities. Channel Ten and News Corp, if they decide to defend the matter, will be allowed to send Bruce Lehrmann interrogatories (questions in writing) which he will be forced to answer. (Click here to read more), On the 22nd of February 2021 it was reported in an article titled Third woman alleges she was sexually assaulted by the same man accused of raping Brittany Higgins: A third woman has alleged she was sexually assaulted by the same former federal government advisor accused of raping former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins. (Click here to read more). If the rumour is true, there is a suppression order so I wont discuss it here but even if its not true Bruce Lehrmann will be a huge story in 2023 given the numerous court cases and inquiries associated with allegations against him. She said at 4:15am she entered the office to conduct a welfare check. Mr Lehrmann was not named in the TV interview or in the online article, but he claims his friends, family and former colleagues in Parliament House were able to identify him as the alleged rapist. The television presenter's lawyers filed her response to Mr Lehrmann's defamation action in the Federal Court on Wednesday, revealing she will look to prove the alleged rape if a truth defence is required. Read our Privacy Policy. Ensured that management teams continue to work efficiently together. Photo: AAP. Photos: Albert McKnight. interface language. Channel Ten and News Corp will also be allowed to subpoena documents, phone records and text messages etc which might be damaging to Bruce Lehrmanns case. 6:41AM February 27, 2023 The independent inquiry probing misconduct in the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann for t he alleged rape of Brittany Higgins will hold its first public hearing on April 26, as Commissioner Walter Sofronoff, KC, continues to subpoena central figures in the case. Lehrmann has maintained his innocence and the rape charge against him was dropped amid concern for Higgins health. Ms Brown said she had asked Ms Higgins whether something happened that you did not want to happen but Ms Higgins shook her head. What are the NSW Police doing? Last week, the court heard that Ms Higgins spoke with the ministers chief of staff at the time, Fiona Brown on the Tuesday following the alleged rape. Prior to founding The Heller Group in 1997, Dr. Heller served as Vice President of two internationally known human resource consulting firms, as the Director of a behavioral health care company. We dont spam! WebLEHRMANN, Bruce SARPANSA Parliamentary Correspondence; Nathan Wahl; James Wheaton RE: ANSTO Health incident update [DLM=For-Official-Use-Only] Hi Bruce Confirming CM Access unlimited news content and The Canberra Times app. On Monday, the ACT Supreme Court heard from security guard Nikola Anderson who led Ms Higgins and Mr Lehrmann into Senator Reynolds office after the pair passed through security at 1:40am on March 23, 2019. content language. In an online statement it has emerged the inquiry will look into other matters that have unfolded in the wake of the abandoned trial, including: "Recent reporting and commentary in relation to the matter of R v Lehrmann raise issues that may have wider implications for the prosecution of criminal matters in the territory.". When she woke up she remembers that Bruce was on top of her having vaginal non-consensual vaginal penetration and she remembers saying No and Stop, Ms Cleaves told the court. An independent inquiry into the now-abandoned prosecution of former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann, over the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins, has called for The independent inquiry into the handling of the Bruce Lehrmann case has a broad enough remit to examine whether the investigation and trial were subject to political influence, according to ACT attorney-general Shane Rattenbury., The inquiry was prompted after explosive allegations about police conduct made by the director of public prosecutions, Shane Drumgold. Copyright @ 2019 The Heller Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He pleaded not guilty at trial to raping Brittany Higgins. 'An unthinkable tragedy': How did this train crash happen? The judge who heard the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation matter reserved his decision which should hopefully be handed down this year. Ms Higgins met with two agents about the incident on April 1, 2019 in the Australian Federal Polices Parliament House office. The inquiry will also look at the circumstances which led to the public release of the letter. As Ive opened the door, Ms Higgins was lying on her back, completely naked on that lounge, Ms Anderson said. If Brittany Higgins hops on the witness stand in any defamation case, it would have the effect of forcing Bruce Lehrmann to do the same. For all the media cannot wait to see your excuses this year. More than 20 witnesses appeared throughout the week, but their testimonies could not be published in the media until after Ms Higgins returned to the stand. John Barilaro NSW ICAC, NSW Police and NSW Parliament investigations, Bruce Lehrmanns defamation lawyers could be jailed for their criminal conduct in the Ben Roberts-Smith case, Bruce Lehrmanns lawyer and Lachlan Murdoch should be charged with conspiring to intimidate Brittany Higgins, Powerful prima facie case to charge journalist Lisa Wilkinson with contempt of court for interfering in the Bruce Lehrmann Brittany Higgins trial, ABC boss David Anderson threatens to sack staff like Louise Milligan and Lucy Carter who were caught lying on Twitter, Old media forced to name Brittany Higgins alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann after running a Liberal Party protection racket for months, Scott Morrison clears rape allegations against Christian Porter and Bruce Lehrmann in preparation for the next election, ACT Police confirm they are still investigating Brittany Higgins rape allegation but refuse to answer questions regarding alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann. Curious Kids: why don't grown-ups play like kids? Provided assistance in making better hiring decisions. Bruce Lehrmann has lodged defamation proceedings in the Federal Court. Please use Twitter, Facebook, email and the other buttons below and help promote this article. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Bruce Nahid serves as the Chairman of Unified Real Estate Services and was one of the original founders of the company in 1986. As is said when good men do nothing Picture: Gary Ramage Ms Wilkinson, who is the first of the parties to file a response in the proceedings, labelled Mr Lehrmanns allegations of recklessness against her baseless, unjustified [and] unsupported by any fact and said they should be withdrawn. Specifically, the board of inquiry the ACT's equivalent of a royal commission will consider whether police and Mr Drumgold failed in any way to act in accordance with their duties, and if they did, what reasons or motives were behind their actions. WebMr Lehrmann was not named during the program. Both of Linda Reynolds defamation cases are frivolous and vexatious, to say the least, and no serious harm has been done to her reputation which is the new test you must prove in a defamation case. The ACT's Victims of Crime Commissioner, Heidi Yates, who accompanied Ms Higgins to court each day will also face scrutiny. He just replied hastily no and flicked the pass onto the desk and before I could ask him anymore, hed already walked out, Mr Fairweather continued. Canberra. Ms Cleaves also said Ms Higgins was anxious and a little bit rattled and decided against filing a formal complaint at the time. Lehrmanns defamation case might encourage them to do so. Facebook. Bruce Lehrmann has accused two major news organisations of being "recklessly indifferent to the truth" for reporting rape allegations made by his former colleague Brittany Higgins, legal documents reveal. The first directions hearing will be held in April, but no specific date has been set. The legal team fighting to prosecute Bruce Lehrmann is headed by a has been boxer, who rose from housing commission in Sydneys west to the peak of the justice system. "[T]he allegation of recklessness against Wilkinson is baseless, unjustified, unsupported by any fact and should be withdrawn," her defence says. He is also seeking damages from News Life Media, the publisher of news.com.au, and the website's political editor, Samantha Maiden, in separate civil proceedings. Mr Lehrmann had faced an ACT Supreme Court trial accused of raping Ms Higgins in Parliament House, but it ended in a mistrial due to juror misconduct and a retrial Just In. But he has lodged defamation proceedings in the Federal Court, claiming he could easily have been identified from the material. Alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann, who numerous women have accused of sexual harassment and/or assault, has instituted defamation proceedings against Channel 10, Included in the specific references will be the dealings police had with Mr Drumgold, Ms Higgins, Mr Lehrmann and Mr Lehrmann's lawyers, as well as the provision of information to any person in relation to the matter. Mr Lehrmann is suing Ms Wilkinson and her employer, Network Ten, alleging they defamed him in a February 2021 story that revealed Ms Higgins' claims. Former Liberal party staffer Bruce Lehrmann outside the ACT supreme court in Canberra last week. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. Two things come to mind in these cases: News Life Media and Ms Maiden are also yet to lodge defences in their case. On Wednesday, another security guard, Kristine Brenton, gave evidence. The inquiry will consider the conduct of criminal justice agencies involved in the prosecution and trial of Bruce Lehrmann. (ABC News: Donal Sheil) On Monday morning, the jury informed Justice McCallum it had not yet reached an agreement on the verdict beyond reasonable doubt, and asked for additional time to deliberate and advice on time expectations. Ms Brown told the court on Tuesday that she was informed by the Finance Department that Ms Higgins and Mr Lehrmann had accessed Senator Reynolds suite on the morning of March 23. The Channel 10 interview and news.com.au stories were aired in 2021, but Mr Lehrmann launched his defamation suit almost two years later.. When do the clocks change in 2023? 2) the book QB VII in which: An independent inquiry into the now-abandoned prosecution of former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann, over the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins, has called for submissions from journalists, lawyers, police and members of the public, with plans for both public and private hearings. 'Each such approach was timely, fair and reasonable, but despite that, Mr Lehrmann elected not to respond at all,' the defence document said. Bruce Heller, Ph.D.s clients include some of the worlds top companies in technology, entertainment, pharmaceutical and medical devices, manufacturers, and scientists and engineers, delivering to each a proven set of strategies that resolve issues and help restore executives to levels of effectiveness and productivity. What are the NSW Police doing? Ms Higgins drank 11 standard alcoholic drinks in 4.5 hours with Mr Lehrmann and by about 1am was so intoxicated she was stumbling and fell over and she told the people that she was with that she was going to catch a taxi home. Achievement of Corporate Goals. After an investigation I published an article on the 27th of February 2021 titled Were young women sexually assaulted when Bruce Lehrmann, the alleged parliament house rapist, was an official at the ANU UN conference? which starts off: Bruce Lehrmann, the alleged parliament house rapist, was an official at the Australian National University (ANU) NCMUN annual conference in 2016 which was the year before new sexual assault and sexual harassment policies were introduced in 2017 for the NCMUN conference that seems to be related to what happened at the 2016 conference. (Click here to read more). Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Read our privacy policy for more info. Lehrmann alleges that he was identified as the man accused of raping his then-colleague Brittany Higgins in Parliament House. Bruce Lehrmann (second left) departs the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra on October 25, 2022. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen. Justice McCallum told the jury to take as long as needed to give a verdict according to the evidence, and said they should not feel pressured about the time this took. On March 26 Ms Higgins told Department of Defence liaison officer Christopher Payne that she had effectively blacked out when she woke to Mr Lehrmann allegedly having sex with her, the court heard on Tuesday. The independent inquiry into the trial of Bruce Lehrmann, who had been accused of raping Brittany Higgins, is currently scheduled to start its public hearings on 26 April. Bruce Lehrmann & David Sharaz, revealed in all their glory. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/act-inquiry-into-trial-bruce-lehrman-public-private-hearings/102000330, Get breaking news alerts directly to your phone with our app, Former minister takes 'absolute responsibility' for Robodebt, admits defending scheme despite knowing it could be unlawful, 'Sickening, callous and brazen': Sydney man dies in hail of bullets in front of 12yo son, Gary has more than $3 million in super and supports plans to make him pay more tax, ADF aircraft, personnel to assist evacuation of hundreds from flooded NT remote communities, Toyah Cordingley's accused killer touches down in Cairns to face murder charges, 'Weight of the dead on my shoulders': Academic breaks down at gay hate deaths inquiry, 'I just sit here and chill now': Tasha used to hide in her tent when pedestrians passed by. & David Sharaz, revealed in all their glory 'an unthinkable tragedy ': How did this train happen. 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