Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial LIVE updates: Emails reveal how Channel 10 boss raised considerations about Brittany Higgins’ story… however they have been ignored – as she lashes out after her secret venture with the ABC was unmasked

Former Ten boss Peter Meakin raised considerations about Brittany Higgins’ inconsistent statements about her ex-boss Linda Reynolds.

The court docket heard on Monday that Mr Meakin despatched The Challenge producer Angus Llewellyn an e-mail on February 6, 2021 – 4 days earlier than broadcast.

The e-mail learn: ‘I did discover a small level about Linda Reynolds’ response.

‘Brittany says her preliminary phrases have been form and supportive, however a second later have been instructed she was uncomfortable along with her.’

Mr Llewellyn responded: ‘Thanks Peter, I reckon when you see the way in which B says all these items, you may have a much better thought of the texture and the shifts in tone.’

Mr Meakin (pictured beneath, ourside court docket on Monday) was requested by Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC whether or not he recalled if he, or anybody else, had carried out something additional about it.

‘I am not conscious that anybody did,’ Mr Meakin mentioned.

Brittany Higgins took to Instagram to elucidate a textual content message she despatched to Queensland MP Sam O’Connor in March 2021 a few 4 Corners episode she ‘labored’ on.

The textual content, despatched a month after her rape allegations aired on The Challenge was learn within the Federal Court docket on Monday morning.

It learn: ‘I’ve been working with 4 Corners behind the scenes to assist piece all of it collectively.

‘I have been staying with Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons in Sydney for the previous few days.

‘They’ve been so great.’

It was recommended in court docket that she might have helped with one in every of two packages – one was about normal misconduct in Parliament Home.

The opposite was about historic sexual assault allegations in opposition to former Legal professional Normal Christian Porter.

On Monday afternoon, she uploaded an Instagram story to elucidate she did not assist with both of these episodes.

‘Day by day truth test,’ she wrote.

‘I spoke on background to the producers of the ABC 4 Corners episode about me in 2021.

4 Corners broadcast an episode about Ms Higgins’ rape allegations in March 2021, known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Inform’.

She beforehand instructed the court docket she felt impressed to go public along with her personal alleged allegations after watching the episode about Christian Porter.

Peter Meakin was requested whether or not everybody named on The Challenge episode was provided an interview in relation to Brittany Higgins’ allegations.

On the finish of the episode, there was an announcement saying everybody who was named within the broadcast declined the chance for an interview.

Senator Michaelia Money – who was Ms Higgins’ boss between 2019 and 2021 – was contacted for touch upon February 10, 2021, however she was not provided an interview.

In court docket on Monday, Mr Meakin mentioned: ‘All I can assume is that they did not take my recommendation.’

‘It would not be the primary time that occurs.’

Former TV boss Peter Meakin instructed the court docket The Challenge believed Brittany Higgins’ story, even after the federal government supplied new info.

Andrew Carswell, Scott Morrison’s then-press secretary, despatched a response to Community Ten on February 14, 2021 – the night time earlier than Ms Higgins’ interview with Lisa Wilkinson aired.

That response mentioned that Ms Higgins was instructed there could be no influence on her profession if she went to the police about her rape allegations.

Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC requested Mr Meakin about Wilkinson’s introductory traces for the printed: ‘a younger lady compelled to decide on between her profession and the pursuit of justice’.

He requested Mr Meakin if he noticed any subject with Wilkinson’s introduction, in gentle of the knowledge supplied by Mr Carswell.

Mr Meakin instructed the court docket: ‘That is what her employer implied and the one inference I can draw from it’s that we’re believing her story greater than the federal government’s.’

Former Community Ten boss Peter Meakin is being cross-examined by Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC.

Mr Richardson requested him a few collection of emails despatched between him and workers members who labored on The Challenge.

One e-mail, learn to the court docket, mentioned: ‘Are we completely happy to decide to a Monday air date? We all know Lisa [Wilkinson] had her coronary heart set on a Sunday.’

Brittany Higgins beforehand instructed a court docket Wilkinson was ‘livid’ the episode aired on a Monday, as a result of that was her time off.

The court docket additionally heard that Wilkinson and The Challenge producer Angus Llewellyn despatched Mr Meakin a textual content at 8.34pm on February 14, 2021 – the day earlier than broadcast.

The textual content comprised a selfie of them each smiling in entrance of Parliament Home, with the caption: ‘Mission full.’

Wilkinson and Mr Llewellyn had pushed to Canberra that day to get extra info for the episode.

Mr Meakin responded: ‘Not simply but, we have now to nonetheless see how the pigeons will react.’

In court docket on Monday, Mr Meakin couldn’t recall what he meant by ‘pigeons’, however he assumed he meant the folks in Canberra who have been contacted for remark previous to broadcast.

Mr Richardson mentioned: ‘Appears like a little bit of a sport, does not it?’

Mr Meakin mentioned: ‘No, I generally use jocular language however I guarantee you it is not a sport.’

Mr Richardson requested whether or not he knew Mr Lehrmann would have been identifiable as Ms Higgins’ alleged rapist.

He referred to a information.com.au article by Samantha Maiden that was printed earlier on February 15, 2021, detailing the identical allegations.

The barrister requested: /Was The Challenge counting on Ms Maiden to advertise The Challenge’s interview?’

Mr Meakin replied: ‘Sure we have been.’

Mr Richardson mentioned: ‘You knew it could enhance the scores for The Challenge that night time?’

Mr Meakin mentioned: ‘That was one of many motives for doing it, sure.’

Mr Richardson then requested if he knew The Challenge was going to disclose extra of Mr Lehrmann’s private particulars than Ms Maiden did.

The Challenge reported that Mr Lehrmann labored in Sydney on the time – which was not outlined within the information.com.au report.

Mr Richardson requested if he knew Mr Lehrmann could be recognized as an alleged rapist with these further particulars.

Mr Meakin mentioned he did not assume Mr Lehrmann could be recognized.

Former Community Ten boss Peter Meakin was known as to the witness stand on Monday morning.

Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson SC directed his consideration to a collection of emails between him and varied members of the crew on The Challenge.

Mr Meakin emailed a video editor on February 8, 2019 – seven days earlier than broadcast – to say ‘this story is a authorized minefield’.

Mr Richardson requested: You suspected there could be a whole lot of modifications to the unique minimize?’

Mr Meakin agreed and mentioned he knew the story was legally contentious.

He instructed the court docket he did not know when the events talked about within the story, together with Mr Lehrmann, could be contacted for remark.

Texts between Queensland MP Sam O’Connor and Brittany Higgins have been learn to the court docket.

One message was despatched in March 2021 – a month after her rape allegations aired on The Challenge – when she referenced a 4 Corners episode, broadcast on the ABC.

The textual content learn: ‘I’ve been working with 4 Corners behind the scenes to assist piece all of it collectively.

‘I have been staying with Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons in Sydney for the previous few days.

‘They’ve been so great.’

There have been two episodes concerning Parliament Home that aired throughout that interval – the primary was about normal misconduct in 2020.

The second was aired on March 8, 2021, and detailed historic sexual assault allegations in opposition to then-Legal professional Normal Christian Porter.

Mr O’Connor (pictured beneath, left, with Ms Higgins, centre, in 2018) could not recall which episode Ms Higgins referred to, however mentioned it was seemingly the Christian Porter one.

Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Steven Whybrown SC requested: ‘Do you might have recollection of any additional dialogue of what her behind the scenes involvement was?’

Mr O’Connor mentioned: ‘I do not, sorry.’

Sam O’Connor instructed the Federal Court docket on Monday that and Brittany Higgins mentioned the potential of going to the police along with her rape allegations, however she did not need to because of publicity.

The Queensland MP is being cross-examined by Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Steven Whybrow SC.

Mr Whybrow requested about varied cellphone conversations and texts he and Ms Higgins despatched in March and April 2019 – within the weeks after the alleged assault.

He has misplaced all their texts, however was capable of recall the substance of assorted cellphone calls that they had at round that interval.

Mr O’Connor distinctly recalled Ms Higgins was immune to going to police as a result of ‘she was involved about being recognized’ for her rape allegations.

She did not need it to ‘outline’ her and he or she did not need to be ‘within the public eye’.

He mentioned: ‘That was her concern as a result of knew it could be a significant story.’

Mr O’Connor could not recall Ms Higgins telling him a safety guard discovered her bare in Linda Reynolds’ workplace within the early hours of March 23, 2019.

He additionally could not recall Ms Higgins telling him Ms Reynolds regarded her as ‘poisonous’ whereas they have been in Perth collectively for the 2019 federal election.

Queensland MP Samuel O’Connor knew Brittany Higgins earlier than she moved to Canberra to work for the Liberal occasion. They’re pictured collectively beneath.

He instructed the Federal Court docket on Monday that Ms Higgins despatched him a textual content on April 19, 2019 – a couple of weeks after the alleged rape – that mentioned: ‘This tremendous f***ed up factor occurred.’

They then had a cellphone dialog throughout which she detailed her allegations.

Mr O’Connor instructed the court docket Ms Higgins defined she was out with colleagues when Mr Lehrmann ‘took her again to Parliament and he raped her’.

‘I completely keep in mind the phrase “rape” – that is not one thing you neglect,’ he mentioned.

‘And he or she completely did say that.’

He had labored in Parliament earlier than and instructed the court docket he thought it was unusual to return to the constructing that early on a Saturday morning, notably when it wasn’t near price range week or Query Time.

‘In subsequent conversations we talked about reporting it to police however she was involved in regards to the implications of that,’ he mentioned.

Mr O’Connor instructed the court docket she felt as if she had been ‘punted’ to Western Australia along with her boss, Linda Reynolds, for the federal election in 2019 as a result of she was ‘away from the motion’.

He recalled her saying she did not need to go public along with her allegations and was very shocked when, in early 2021, she instructed him she was going to element her claims on tv.

Justice Michael Lee ordered Google LLC, which relies within the US, to offer subscriber particulars and logins to the ‘Feminism Debuked’ YouTube channel.

The channel has shared 9 movies with footage from the case, which is illegal.

If Google gives these particulars, Justice Lee will determine the particular person behind the channel they usually must entrance court docket and clarify why they shouldn’t be charged with contempt of court docket.

The general public is allowed to look at the court docket proceedings however they don’t seem to be allowed to document the reside stream.

Fiona Brown, Linda Reynolds’ former chief of workers, will proof this week.

Ms Brown’s medical doctors suggested her to not give proof because of psychological well being struggles, however her barrister instructed the court docket she wish to contribute.

The court docket’s livestream could also be briefly disabled whereas she is cross-examined.

Ms Brown was working for Ms Reynolds when she took over the defence trade portfolio in early 2019.

Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann have been working as advisors for Ms Reynolds at the moment.

Ms Higgins claims Ms Brown was the primary particular person she disclosed her alleged rape to, in a personal assembly within the final week of March that 12 months.

Ms Brown was the one one that took notes instantly after these conferences and was as soon as known as ‘an important particular person on this case’ because of that truth.

She beforehand instructed a court docket that Ms Higgins mentioned Mr Lehrmann was allegedly on prime of her, however that she did not use the phrase ‘rape’.

Ms Brown has regularly denied that she didn’t help Ms Higgins after she made her rape allegations.

She gave proof at Mr Lehrmann’s prison trial final 12 months however ran out of the courtroom in tears.

Veteran tv boss Peter Meakin is ready to present proof on Monday, together with The Challenge producer Chris Bendall and Queensland MP Sam O’Connor.

The case is predicted to finish this week, with closing submissions anticipated on Thursday or Friday.

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Community 10 within the Federal Court docket 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 buddies and former colleagues have been capable of determine him because the alleged rapist.

He has regularly maintained his innocence.

Lisa Wilkinson completed her proof on Friday.