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Former departmental liaison officer Chris Payne advised the Federal Courtroom on Monday that he gave an announcement to police after he watched Brittany Higgins’ interview on The Undertaking in February 2021.
He additionally advised the courtroom he learn media studies about Ms Higgins’ rape allegations which may have impacted his reminiscence.
Mr Payne advised the courtroom throughout his evidence-in-chief that he had a dialog with Ms Higgins within the days after the alleged assault, on March 23, 2019, throughout which she detailed the incident.
Throughout cross-examination with Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Steven Whybrow SC, he conceded he did not know when that dialog really occurred.
He additionally advised the courtroom he saved his distance from staffers, like Ms Higgins and Mr Lehrmann, as a result of he was a public servant slightly than a political advisor.
When requested whether or not he obtained together with Mr Lehrmann, Mr Payne replied: ‘I by no means had a standup argument with Mr Lehrmann, if that is what you are suggesting.’
He was additionally requested why he advised the courtroom that Ms Brown stated she was going to attempt to get entry to the safety footage, when he did not inform police that data – nor did he say it throughout Mr Lehrmann’s legal trial final 12 months.
Mr Whybrow prompt he was getting confused with media studies and didn’t have an impartial recollection of Ms Brown saying these phrases.
He stated: ‘Can I recommend that that is one other assertion that, right here right this moment, is the primary time you’ve got ever talked about or prompt that Ms Brown stated to you, “I will attempt to get entry to the CCTV”.’
‘You’re conscious that Ms Higgins has made quite a few allegations that she had conversations with Ms Brown about CCTV, aren’t you?’
‘Is it doable that you’re complicated this dialog with subsequent accounts you’ve got heard?’
‘I do not consider so,’ Mr Payne stated.
Mr Payne agreed that he didn’t give that data to police, however maintained he did recall Ms Brown speaking him about having access to the safety footage.
He was additionally requested whether or not he had a field of Roses candies on his desk within the week of March 23, 2019.
The courtroom beforehand heard Ms Higgins took a field of Roses from his desk the morning after the alleged assault, and completed them.
Mr Whybrow stated: ‘Ms Higgins had reported that she discovered candies in your desk.’
Mr Payne advised the courtroom that police requested him in regards to the candies.
Mr Whybrow stated: ‘You stated [to police] that you simply actually didn’t.’
Mr Payne stated: ‘Sure, if I had candies I might have eaten them.’
