Bruce Lehrmann has been called to give evidence in his defamation case against Channel 10 and News Life Media – the first time he has stepped into the witness box in any case so far.
Lehrmann was sworn in at the Federal Court in Sydney on Thursday morning as he sues the two media giants over the stories where Brittany Higgins first alleged she was raped by a ‘male colleague’ in Parliament House in 2019.
He also launched a lawsuit against news.com.au journalist Samantha Maiden and its parent company News Life Media, owned by News Corp, for an online article featuring the same allegations.
He was not named in the broadcast or article, but his statement of claim argues his identity would have been known in political circles and was further ascertainable when he was charged with sexual assault and publicly named in August 2021.
Lehrmann stepped into the witness box shortly after midday and was sworn in, where he described his ‘outrage’ as he watched Project presenter Lisa Wilkinson’s interview for the first time, in the office of lawyer Warwick Korn.
‘I was outraged by the material I was seeing,’ he said.
It came after Lisa Wilkinson’s lawyer has revealed Lehrmann sent a series of frantic texts to a woman to say he was ‘up for a bit of money’ on the day Brittany Higgins went public with her allegations that he raped her.
Mr Lehrman is pictured, clean-shaven, outside the Federal Court in Sydney on Thursday morning. He is suing Wilkinson and Channel 10 for defamation
The day after both interviews were published, Mr Lehrmann checked himself into Royal North Shore Hospital, the court heard.
‘I was not in a good way,’ he told the court.
He has no recollection of being placed under ’30-minute observations’ by the hosptial, but he does remember checking himself into another mental health facility once he was released. He stayed there for about 12 days.
When his lawyer Steven Whybrow asked why he was in conversations with Mr Korn about potential defamation proceedings, Mr Lehrmann said: ‘I was angry and upset and I wanted to fight back against the media.’
During an interlocutory hearing in the Federal Court in Sydney on Thursday morning, Wilkinson’s lawyer Sue Chrysanthou told Justice Michael Lee she would rely on a series of text messages between Mr Lehrmann and a woman named Greta Sinclair.
The messages were sent by Mr Lehrmann on February 15, 2021 – the day the allegations about him were aired. Ms Chrysanthou said they showed Mr Lehrmann’s ‘state of mind’ at the time.
The court heard Mr Lehrmann has been speaking with solicitor Warwick Korn before and during the time that he messages Ms Sinclair. He was primarily concerned that he would be identified as Ms Higgins’ alleged rapist.
‘Warwick doesn’t think I’ll be named,’ the first message read.
‘If I’m named tonight I’m up for millions in defamation … Channel Ten, as well as the government Department of Finance, are up for a lot of money. ‘
‘I’m just getting reassurances,’ he continued. ‘I want to be sure about things.’
Following further conversations with his lawyer, Mr Lehrman wrote: ‘Criminal is off the cards completely.’
Referring to the rape allegation, he said: ‘One, it’s false, and second they have nothing.’
While not named in the Wilkinson interview with Higgins (pair pictured above), his statement of claim argues his identity would have been known in political circles
Higgins pictured speaking at a the Women’s March 4 Justice last year
‘But we may have civil,’ he wrote, referring to potential defamation proceedings against the network.
‘And tonight, [Mr Korn] said I won’t see the light of a court room. ‘
Mr Lehrmann then revealed he had ‘two lawyers now’, and that another legal professional told him ‘I’m up for a bit of money’.
The text messages were read to the court as part of Ms Chrysanthou’s application to oppose the extension of the limitation period.
Applicants normally have 12 months from the date of publication to file a defamation case. Mr Lehrmann waited two years to file the defamation suit. His lawyers will argue it was unreasonable for him to sue within the first year.
Wilkinson, News.com.au and Channel Ten have opposed the extension. They will argue it was reasonable for Mr Lehrmann to launch a defamation case within the first year of the allegations against him being aired.
The interlocutory hearing continues.
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