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The previous political staffer was because of study on Thursday whether or not his defamation case over studies of his alleged rape of Brittany Higgins had succeeded.
However, along with his draft judgment printed and able to be learn out, Justice Michael Lee on Tuesday agreed contemporary proof regarding leaked textual content messages needs to be admitted.
“That is clearly contemporary proof,” he mentioned within the Federal Courtroom on Tuesday night.
An additional listening to can be heard on Thursday, with judgment delayed at the very least per week.
Ten mentioned the possibly case-changing proof got here from a tv producer who had labored to safe an unique interview with Lehrmann for community rival Seven.
It included an allegation that Lehrmann, 28, offered the producer greater than 2300 pages of “deeply private exchanges” between Higgins and her former boyfriend, in breach of the longstanding rule in authorized apply often called the Harman endeavor.
Lehrmann acquired the fabric, going again years, whereas defending himself in a legal trial.
Lawyer Steven Whybrow and former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehmann arriving on the Federal Courtroom of Australia in Sydney on 22 December, 2023. Supply: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Justice Lee mentioned the proof could change the willpower of the case and agreed with Ten that it went as to whether Lehrman had abused the courtroom course of.
Ten’s barrister Matthew Collins accused Lehrmann of giving his barristers directions “that will need to have been fallacious”.
His barristers had beforehand informed Ten and the courtroom the endeavor regarding Higgins’ messages had not been breached.
“This isn’t a trivial matter,” Collins mentioned.
“If the (producer) proof is accepted, our submission can be it is a very severe matter.”
Lehrmann, a former political staffer, is suing Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over a February 2021 report on The Venture the place Higgins was interviewed about her alleged raped in a Parliament Home workplace in March 2019.
He’s in search of intensive damages, saying these studies have destroyed his repute.
Lehrmann denies raping Higgins.
His barrister on Tuesday urged Justice Lee to dismiss the last-minute software, saying each his shopper and Higgins had informed many lies on oath.
“It is actually lipstick on a pig,” barrister Matthew Richardson mentioned.
“These items is trivial, it is simply not related and to provide go away to reopen on that form of materials can be inappropriate.”
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