Bruce Lehrmann, Brittany Higgins defamation trial dwell updates: Lisa Wilkinson blasts lawyer’s ‘low cost’ query as she reveals Brittany Higgins’ transfer that set off ‘alarm bells’ earlier than The Challenge interview – and her doubts about THAT bruise photograph

Lisa Wilkinson snaps at Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister, Matthew Richardson SC, when he urged she was extra keen on viewers than investigating the reality in Brittany Higgins’ allegations.

Mr Richardson was suggesting to Wilkinson that she did not critically analyse Ms Higgins’ rape allegations.

He stated: ‘I wish to recommend to you that you just have been fully dedicated to supporting Ms Higgins.’

Wilkinson replied: ‘I agree.’

He continued: ‘You had no want to verify or scrutinise something she stated.’

‘You have been solely captured by your supply,’ he requested.

Wilkinson did not perceive his use of the phrase ‘captured’, so he rephrased.

‘You have been dedicated to her model of occasions,’ he requested.

He then stated: ‘You have been thrilled by the riveting industrial story she instructed.’

Wilkinson paused for a second.

She stated, coldly and thru gritted tooth: ‘Please do not make me sound like an inexpensive tabloid journalist, Mr Richardson.’

Lisa Wilkinson requested concerning the second Brittany Higgins claimed the federal government had wiped her cellphone.

Ms Higgins beforehand instructed the courtroom she was taking screenshots of conversations that helped show her rape allegations, earlier than she tried to replace the machine and all her pictures disappeared.

She urged the federal government had software program on her cellphone and that the machine being wiped could not have been an accident.

That meant Ms Higgins did not have any messages or pictures from the time she alleges she was raped.

In courtroom on Thursday, Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC requested: ‘Did that trigger you to have considerations concerning the reliability of Ms Higgins?’

Mr Richardson referenced a five-hour dialog she had with Angus Llewellyn, Ms Higgins and her accomplice David Sharaz in January 27, 2021.

Throughout that dialog, she stated to Ms Higgins: ‘Wiping the cellphone, it is acquired alarm bells written throughout it for me.’

Mr Richardson requested: ‘Are you able to clarify, as greatest you possibly can, what you meant once you stated that?’

Wilkinson defined she was attempting to resolve the state of affairs, ‘so alarm bells have been ringing for me’, she stated.

‘I exploit “alarm bells” loads.’

Mr Richardson requested: ‘Does that imply alarm bells within the sense you are pondering “oh expensive, the federal government could have been doing one thing to your cellphone Ms Higgins” or alarm bells within the sense of ”oh expensive, what Ms Higgins is saying sounds actually foolish”?’

Wilkinson replied: ‘It meant we needed to look extra deeply into this challenge.’

Lisa Wilkinson says she relied on the subtext of what Brittany Higgins instructed her, reasonably than what she truly stated.

Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC was asking her about conflicting statements Ms Higgins made throughout her conversations with Wilkinson.

At one stage, she stated her former bosses Linda Reynolds and Fiona Brown have been supportive of her going to police about her rape allegations.

At one other, she stated they made her select between pursuing her rape allegations and her job.

‘That is a really severe allegation,’ he stated.

‘Sure it’s,’ she replied.

‘You had learn the timeline doc that Ms Reynolds and Ms Brown have been supportive of her going to police at a gathering on Monday?’ he requested.

‘What she’s saying is contradictory, is not it?’ he requested.

Wilkinson instructed the courtroom that she believed Ms Higgins had been attempting to work out what her choices have been and attempting to recall the phrases used.

She then stated the way in which Ms Higgins preceived what was stated differed as a result of high-pressure setting of Parliament Home ‘the place so many individuals have totally different agendas.

Mr Richardson stated: ‘Should you’re saying the phrases that have been stated are totally different to what Ms Higgins was relaying to you, wasn’t {that a} significant issue?’

He continued: ‘Did not that imply her account was unreliable?’

Mr Richardson requested: ‘You simply stated that what she stated is probably not correct.’

Wilkinson paused, thoughtfully.

She stated: ‘Possibly I am simply attuned to studying between the strains greater than you might be, Mr Richardson.’

Lisa Wilkinson defined to the Federal Courtroom why a full message to Brittany Higgins from her chief of employees, Fiona Brown, wasn’t aired on The Challenge.

The message was despatched within the days after she was allegedly raped in Parliament Home and invited Ms Higgins to a gathering the next week.

The a part of the message that was not aired on tv was the subsequent line, the place Ms Brown requested Ms Higgins if she needed to deliver her father to the assembly for help.

Ms Higgins had instructed Wilkinson that Ms Brown was not supportive, describing her as a ‘terrifying particular person’.

In courtroom on Thursday, Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC urged that full textual content was related to understanding how Ms Higgins was handled by Ms Brown.

When requested why the entire textual content wasn’t aired on TV, Wilkinson stated: ‘The vagaries of primetime tv stays that viewers have quick consideration spans.’

She stated, in these conditions, it was simpler to point out shorter messages.

Lisa Wilkinson instructed the courtroom Linda Reynolds’ behaviour was ‘deplorable’ after Brittany Higgins dicslosed her alleged rape to her.

Ms Higgins had instructed Wilkinson throughout a five-hour dialog in January 2021 that she was not supported by her Parliament Home bosses after she instructed them about her alleged rape

Throughout that assembly, Wilkinson was referring to Senator Reynolds when she stated: “I’m attempting to work out who this f***ing lady is.’

‘I’d by no means heard of her,’ Ms Wilkinson says on the tape.

In courtroom on Thursday, she stated: ‘I apologise for my language.’

The majority of Wilkinson’s gripe about Ms Reynolds appeared to stem from a tweet she posted in February 2019, after Julie Bishop stop politics.

It learn: ‘Julie Bishop, Julia Banks, Kelly O’Dwyer, Ann Sudmalis…. Makes you marvel simply what number of (or few) ladies will likely be left within the LNP after the subsequent election. Not that there have been that many to start with…’

Senator Reynolds replied within the feedback: ‘So dissatisfied in your trite trivialisation of the numerous contributions Julie Bishop has remodeled an excellent 20 yr profession – she deserves much better.’

The senator then stated the Coalition had preselected ‘over 20 new & splendidly numerous and robust feminine candidates’, and tagged Jacinta Value, who received a seat within the senate in 2022.

In courtroom on Wednesday, Wilkinson stated Senator Reynolds’ message was ‘low cost’.

Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC urged to Wilkinson that she was in search of a cause to fireside up about Ms Reynolds and that she already shared Ms Higgins’ adverse opinions about her.

Wilkinson instructed the courtroom her feedback to Ms Higgins throughout that assembly have been in response to the way in which Ms Higgins stated she was handled by the senator, reasonably than a mirrored image of views she already held.

Particularly, Wilkinson was responding to the truth that Ms Higgins was referred to as into a gathering with the senator and her chief of employees in the identical room the alleged rape happened in.

Senator Reynolds has beforehand stated she did not know Ms Higgins was allegedly assaulted in that room.

Wilkinson instructed the courtroom that Senator Reynolds’ behaviour was ‘deplorable’.

In courtroom on Wednesday, Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC urged to Wilkinson that she was in search of a cause to fireside up about Ms Reynolds.

Lisa Wilkinson raised questions on a photograph of a bruise on Brittany Higgins’ leg, which she claimed was the results of her alleged rape.

Ms Higgins additionally stated her cellphone was wiped in 2021, probably by the federal government, and he or she misplaced all her pictures.

Wilkinson had texted her producer expressing considerations concerning the photograph, which she claimed was taken in 2019, asking how Ms Higgins might have had that photograph after her cellphone died.

Mr Llewellyn stated he wasn’t positive, however elevating the query would weaken the story.

In courtroom on Wednesday, Wilkinson stated she had varied cellphone conversations along with her producer Angus Llewellyn and different group members concerning the photograph.

‘I used to be a bit insistent we wanted to do additional investigation,’ she stated.

Justice Michael Lee requested: ‘Did you escalate this?’

Wilkinson stated she requested questions however could not recall particular conversations.

‘Someday earlier than broadcast, I used to be happy this was not a difficulty,’ she instructed the courtroom.

Lisa Wilkinson has been requested a couple of photograph of a bruise on Brittany Higgins’ leg.

Ms Higgins instructed her the bruise was attributable to Bruce Lehrmann’s knee digging into her leg through the alleged rape on March 23, 2019.

The courtroom beforehand heard the photograph aired on The Challenge was truly a screenshot Ms Higgins took at 8.45am on January 27, 2021.

There was no proof the photograph had been taken inside the days after the alleged rape, in 2019.

In courtroom on Wednesday, Wilkinson stated she by no means checked the date on the photograph as a result of she could not see one.

‘Mr Richardson, I’ve to be trustworthy with you, I’m not tech-savvy in any respect. I did not know what metadata was at that time,’ she stated.

Matthew Richardson SC, representing Mr Lehrmann, requested: ‘You knew there could be some sort of digital document.’

Wilkinson stated she was first proven the photograph throughout a pre-interview chat and he or she was getting an understanding of what proof would kind the idea of Ten’s investigation into Ms Higgins’ allegations.

She was requested concerning the form of the bruise and stated she believed it was attributable to the arm of the sofa Ms Higgins alleged she was raped on.

‘Did you ever put your principle to her?’ Mr Richardson requested.

Wilkinson paused and thought, earlier than she cocked her head and stated: ‘No.’

The courtroom then heard there was a small group engaged on Ms Higgins’ interview and all queries went by way of one producer, reasonably than a number of – as was the standard course of – as a result of delicate nature of the subject.

She put all her questions and considerations to her producer, Angus Llewellyn.

Lisa Wilkinson’s Logies speech was performed in courtroom on Thursday morning.

Throughout that speech, Wilkinson spoke about Brittany Higgins’ braveness and bravado in going public along with her rape allegations.

It casued Bruce Lehrmann’s legal trial to be delayed by three months.

In courtroom on Wednesday, she watched it intently.

Mr Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC requested whether or not she believed the speech was the identical as telling viewers that Ms Higgins’ allegations have been appropriate.

‘As you stood there on the stage … Is there any a part of you that thought, “this isn’t an particularly good thought”?’

Wilkinson stated she didn’t assume that.

When requested if she took accountability of the speech, she stated: ‘I take accountability for these phrases – I spoke them.’

Mr Richardson requested: ‘I wish to recommend to you that you just put your pleasure and your ego forward of my consumer’s proper to a good trial once you gave that speech.’

Wilkinson replied: ‘I fully disagree.’

Mr Richardson stated: ‘There have been a whole lot of 1000’s of people that believed Ms Higgins’ allegations.’

She replied: ‘Mr Richardson, for those who will be within the minds of the whole nation, that is a superpower I do not possess.’

Lisa Wilkinson appeared tense when requested what ‘background’ meant to a journalist.

Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC requested: ‘Do you say the phrases ‘background’ and ‘off the document’ imply the identical factor to a journalist?’

She replied: ‘After they come from a political advisor, sure.’

He stated: ‘In what circumstance can they imply the identical?’

She paused, earlier than replying with readability: ‘As journalists, we select what we’re going to use.’

Mr Richardson stated: ‘I am simply asking you what background means.’

Wilkinson replied: ‘It means it is to not be attributed to the one who [supplied] the key data.’

He then requested about her expertise as a journalist, asking: ‘You have been working in journalism since 1978?’

Mr Richardson then requested whether or not she had undertaken any skilled coaching within the authorized ideas of contempt and sub judice in that point.

He requested: ‘Do you deny having undertaken coaching at Channel Ten or any earlier roles?’

He requested: ‘Is that critically your reply?’

She stated: ‘Sure, that is why I had to consider it.’

Journalists are usually educated to keep away from committing contempt of courtroom or sub judice (one other type of contempt) as a part of their day by day work.

Contempt of courtroom is any act which has the tendency to intervene with or undermine the authority, efficiency or dignity of the courts, or these concerned in courtroom proceedings.

Disobeying courtroom orders or filming witnesses to attempt to intimidate them are simply a few examples which could quantity to contempt.

Sub judice contempt happens when publication or remark by way of the media that pertains to a present courtroom case has the potential to intervene with the correct working of the proceedings.

Earlier within the week, a section aired by Sky Information Australia featured recordings of Brittany Higgins’ lawyer Leon Zwier having a dialogue along with her fiancé David Sharaz on Monday final week within the foyer bar of Sydney’s Park Hyatt Resort.

At the moment, Ms Higgins was in the course of cross-examination and due to this fact barred from talking to her attorneys.

Breaching that rule might quantity to contempt of courtroom.

In response to the Sky Information article, tendered in courtroom on Tuesday, Mr Zwier could possibly be heard giving Mr Sharaz recommendation on how Ms Higgins ought to reply to questions on her compensation cost on the witness stand the next morning.

In courtroom on Thursday, Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC stated an professional was inspecting the audio.

‘By the top of the way in which, we hope we are able to inform your honour if there will likely be an utility,’ he stated.

Fiona Brown was Linda Reynolds’ chief of employees in 2019, when Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann labored as advisors in Parliament Home.

Ms Brown gave proof in Mr Lehrmann’s legal trial, however she ran out of the courtroom in tears.

Her authorized counsel had requested whether or not she could possibly be excused from giving proof on medical grounds, citing suggestions from her medical doctors.

Nevertheless, they stated she needed to contribute to the trial and provides her proof.

On Thursday morning, her lawyer requested whether or not the courtroom’s livestream could possibly be disabled.

Justice Michael Lee stated he would take her medical experiences into consideration.

The courtroom heard Ms Brown is flying to Sydney.

Lisa Wilkinson arrived on the Federal Courtroom on Thursday morning in a peach-coloured pants go well with, forward of her first day on the witness stand.

A 9 Information reporter requested: ‘How does it really feel to be the one being questioned?’

She replied: ‘Good morning.’

A diary entry tendered within the Federal Courtroom case reveals Brittany Higgins instructed police that Bruce Lehrmann ‘acquired fairly handsy’ on the evening of the alleged rape.

The entry was written by Katie Thelning, an Australian Federal Police officer who interviewed Brittany Higgins about her rape allegations on April 1, 2019 – a couple of week after the alleged incident.

It was uploaded to the Federal Courtroom’s web site on Wednesday night, together with a collection of different reveals tendered as proof.

Ms Higgins instructed Ms Thelning every thing she might recall from the night of March 22, 2019.

She recalled ingesting with Parliament Home colleagues at The Dock resort in Canberra earlier within the night, earlier than she went with Mr Lehrmann and two others to nightclub, 88mph.

Ms Higgins recalled dancing and feeling embarrassed she fell over.

In response to Ms Thelning’s notes, Ms Higgins sat down once more.

The entry learn: ‘Bruce was sitting with me and acquired fairly handsy – I did not actually thoughts.’

‘I felt like I acquired tremendous inebriated. I misplaced it on the steps once more.’

Her different two colleagues acquired in a taxi and he or she acquired in a taxi with Mr Lehrmann.

‘The subsequent factor I bear in mind was being on the backside of Parliament Home,’ the entry learn.

Mr Lehrmann firmly denied touching and kissing Ms Higgins on the membership when requested in courtroom.

Lisa Wilkinson will likely be referred to as to the witness stand at 10.15am on Thursday.

She is not going to intention to show that Brittany Higgins was allegedly raped by Bruce Lehrmann – as a substitute, she’ll attempt to show that she did every thing in her energy to organize a good report for The Challenge broadcast of the allegations.

For Wilkinson, it could possibly be a career-saving transfer.

Her TV profession was paused within the wake of her disastrous Logies acceptance speech in 2022, which she received for her interview with Ms Higgins.

The speech led to Mr Lehrmann’s legal trial being delayed by three months and he or she confronted heavy criticism.

On Thursday, she is anticipated to attempt to redeem herself.

She is anticipated to be requested about her adverse views on Coalition minister Linda Reynolds, after she was recorded taking intention on the former defence trade minister in a five-hour recorded assembly with Ms Higgins – just a few weeks earlier than the present was broadcast.

‘I’ve so acquired Linda Reynolds in my sights now,’ she stated.

Community Ten producer, Angus Llewellyn, was cross-examined by Mr Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mr Llewellyn appeared to fumble on the witness stand whereas attempting to clarify why he accepted Ms Higgins’ model of occasions so readily.

Specifically, why he did not discover that Ms Higgins airdropped him a screenshot of a photograph of a bruise that was taken at 8.45am on January 27, 2021.

In her statutory declaration, she stated the photograph was attributable to Mr Lehrmann’s knee through the alleged rape, and was taken simply days after in April 2019.

He didn’t ask Ms Higgins for the metadata, relied solely on her phrase, and put the photograph to air – telling viewers it was an damage on account of the alleged rape.

Mr Llewellyn additionally could not clarify why he did not quiz Ms Higgins over varied inconsistencies in her model of occasions.

One instance was a declare that she was not supported by Linda Reynolds and her chief of employees Fiona Brown, and was pressured to decide on between her job and pursuing an official police criticism.

In her televised interview with Wilkinson, Ms Higgins stated Senator Reynolds and Ms Brown have been ‘good’ however appeared to suggest she had a sense her job was on the road.

Mr Llewellyn instructed the courtroom he did not focus on the finer particulars with Wilkinson.

Wilkinson employed Sue Chrysanthou SC to signify her reasonably than utilizing Community Ten’s attorneys.

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Community 10 within the Federal Courtroom over her 2021 interview with Brittany Higgins the place she alleged he raped her in Parliament Home in 2019.

He was not named, however claims mates and former colleagues have been capable of establish him because the alleged rapist.

He has frequently maintained his innocence.

Community Ten producer Angus Llewellyn completed his cross-examination on Wednesday.

Lisa Wilkinson will likely be referred to as to the witness stand on Thursday morning.