- New evidence will be presented in Channel Ten’s defamation trial
Network Ten will present new evidence in the defamation trial of Bruce Lehrmann, just days before the judge is due to hand down his sentence.
Judge Michael Lee of the Federal Court was expected to rule on Thursday in Lehrmann’s defamation case against the broadcaster and presenter Lisa Wilkinson.
However, on Sunday the Federal Court announced that Judge Lee would hear “an urgent request from Network Ten to reopen its case” on Tuesday evening.
Judge Lee had adjourned the case in December following a five-week trial and appearance by Brittany Higgins, a former Liberal staffer who alleged Lehrmann raped her in March 2019 in their then-boss Linda Reynolds’ office at Parliament House.
The allegations were aired on Channel Ten’s The Project by Wilkinson in 2021.
Wilkinson’s bombshell interview with Ms. Higgins later led to Mr. Lehrmann’s defamation lawsuit.
Mr Lehrmann was not mentioned in the 2021 interview but claims he could still be identified by the media.
He claims there are four defamatory meanings in The Project’s report and denies allegations that he raped Ms Higgins.
Mr Lehrmann has sought extensive damages to compensate for the alleged toll the interview took on his reputation.
His criminal trial over the alleged rape in October 2022 was previously halted after a juror brought outside sources into the deliberation room.
Judge Lee previously said he would start writing his judgment the day after the defamation trial ended.
Since the trial began, he has been handed more than 15,000 pages of transcripts and 1,000 separate pieces of evidence – including CCTV footage and audio recordings.
It is expected that the party that loses the multimillion-dollar lawsuit will appeal the decision.
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