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Key Factors
- A court docket has heard Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann had been “sensitive” the night time Lehrmann allegedly raped Higgins.
- A former colleague has given proof she noticed them sitting shut collectively and kissing at a nightclub on the night.
- Lehrmann is suing Community Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for defamation over a report concerning Higgins’ allegations.
This text accommodates references to allegations of rape and sexual assault.
Hours earlier than Brittany Higgins was allegedly raped by Bruce Lehrmann, the pair had been seen kissing and touching one another in a Canberra nightclub, a choose has heard.
After going out for drinks at pub The Dock and 80s-themed membership 88mph, the duo returned to Parliament Home within the early hours of 23 March 2019, the place occurred.
Lauren Achieve was a parliamentary colleague who was out with Higgins, Lehrmann and Austin Wenke that night time.
The general public servant instructed the Federal Courtroom on Wednesday that she noticed Higgins and Lehrmann sitting shut collectively being intimate whereas sitting in a sales space at 88mph.
“I keep in mind them being fairly sensitive with each other … I keep in mind them kissing,” she instructed Justice Michael Lee. They each had their fingers on every others’ thighs and kissed for a time frame, Achieve stated.
“I take it (that) it was a passionate kiss?” the choose requested. “Sure,” Achieve replied.
From the witness field, Wenke stated he couldn’t recall whether or not there had been any kiss between the 2 colleagues that night time.
Lehrmann is suing Community Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for defamation over a February 2021 report on The Venture concerning Higgins’ allegations.
She claims she was raped within the workplace of their then-boss, Senator Linda Reynolds, within the early hours of 23 March 2019 after an evening out consuming in Canberra.
Lehrmann has all the time denied the allegations, saying that no sexual contact or any intimacy occurred between the pair at any time.
Lehrmann known as Higgins ‘good wanting’ weeks earlier than alleged rape
Weeks earlier than the alleged rape, Lehrmann requested if a “good wanting” Higgins may very well be invited out to drinks, the court docket heard earlier.
Nicky Hamer, a former Liberal staffer who labored alongside Lehrmann and Higgins, spoke in regards to the dialog, which she stated happened on March 2, 2019.
“Bruce made a remark about Brittany being good wanting and requested me if I knew her,” Hamer stated. “He requested me simply to see if she was free to pop all the way down to the pub.”
Hamer already labored for Senator Reynolds when Higgins joined the workplace after her former employer, defence trade minister Steven Ciobo, resigned.
The court docket heard Higgins had gone to the Kingston Lodge to satisfy up with Hamer, Lehrmann and one other staffer, Jesse Wotton, on 2 March earlier than she had been given a job with Senator Reynolds.
When Higgins stated she needed to depart, Lehrmann took her cellphone for one or two minutes to forestall her from ordering an Uber and requested her to remain for yet another drink, Hamer stated.
She instructed the court docket she turned offended with Lehrmann over this after Higgins left. Lehrmann allegedly retorted that Hamer was a “feminist” who all the time felt like she needed to stick up for girls.
Wotton, who’s now deputy state director of the WA Liberal Celebration, instructed the court docket Hamer had “over-reacted” in the direction of each him and Lehrmann through the argument.
Hamer claimed that they had pressured Higgins into staying and the junior staffer would have thought she had misplaced her alternative for a job in Senator Reynolds’ workplace as a result of she opted to go away. “I used to be very sad about that accusation being made,” Wotton stated.
Lehrmann was charged in August 2021 over the alleged rape, however his prison trial within the ACT Supreme Courtroom was derailed by juror misconduct.
Prosecutors didn’t search a second trial, citing issues for Higgins’ psychological well being. Lehrmann has all the time asserted his innocence, and no discovering has been made in opposition to him in relation to the allegations.
If this story has raised any points for you, assist is out there at Lifeline on 13 11 14.
For those who or somebody needs to speak about sexual assault or harassment, household or home violence, name 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or go to www.1800RESPECT.org.au
In an emergency, name 000.
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