“I labored out who my actual mates are, that’s for certain, which aren’t many.”
Among the many reveals within the trial, launched by the courtroom on Thursday, is a screenshot of a bunch chat with Lehrmann, displaying 9 individuals exiting the group within the days after the Ten broadcast. One member posted a picture of a purple “Eject” button.
Separate screenshots present two different individuals leaving a separate Fb messenger group, whereas Lehrmann was additionally faraway from a three-person chat titled “The Triumvirate”.
Exhibit within the Lehrmann defamation trial displaying individuals exiting a bunch chat with Bruce Lehrmann within the days after Ten broadcast an interview with Brittany Higgins.Credit score: Federal Court docket of Australia
Lip-reading knowledgeable engaged
On the primary day of the trial within the Federal Court docket in Sydney on Wednesday, Ten’s barrister, Matt Collins, KC, revealed that the community had engaged a lip-reading knowledgeable to analyse CCTV footage displaying Lehrmann and Higgins with colleagues at a bar in Canberra within the hours earlier than the alleged rape.
“I suggest to place propositions to Mr Lehrmann. Sooner or later I’ll ask Ms Higgins what she thinks she was saying at completely different factors,” Collins mentioned.
Collins mentioned Ten “intentionally selected an knowledgeable from the UK who had no familiarity with both Ms Higgins or Mr Lehrmann”.
‘Looking for vindication’
Lehrmann’s barrister, Matthew Richardson, SC, mentioned in his opening deal with to the courtroom on Wednesday that his shopper was “searching for vindication for the defamation that has completely destroyed him. He comes right here for justice”.
“He understands that he can’t persuade everyone however, following the withdrawal of the legal proceedings in opposition to him, he brings these proceedings in opposition to his most outstanding accusers: Channel Ten, and Lisa Wilkinson and The Mission.”
Lisa Wilkinson exterior the Federal Court docket in Sydney on Thursday together with her barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, SC.Credit score: Rhett Wyman
Lehrmann was named within the media in August 2021, six months after the Ten interview, when he was charged with sexual activity with out consent. He pleaded not responsible to the cost. His trial was aborted in October final 12 months attributable to juror misconduct.
The cost was later dropped altogether amid considerations about Higgins’ psychological well being. Lehrmann has all the time maintained his innocence.
Cross-examination
Richardson advised the courtroom on Wednesday that “for some individuals, the guilt of our shopper, Mr Lehrmann, is an article of religion”, whereas there was “undoubtedly a bunch of people that have all the time believed my shopper’s denial of the allegation”.
Others had been “standing within the center”, Richardson mentioned, and “they perceive that when there aren’t any eyewitnesses, no audiovisual recording, no audio recording, no admissions, simply two competing variations, that the most effective society can handle is to weigh that proof in courtroom in entrance of an neutral choose”.
“He’ll say what occurred to him,” Richardson mentioned. “He’ll submit himself to cross-examination.”
Lehrmann began giving his evidence-in-chief on Wednesday afternoon and can proceed on Thursday, earlier than Ten’s barrister begins his cross-examination of Lehrmann.
Instances settled
Lehrmann has settled instances introduced in opposition to Information Corp and the ABC. The ABC case had been attributable to go to trial alongside the Ten proceedings.