Community Ten and Information Corp will search to show former Liberal Celebration staffer Bruce Lehrmann raped his then-colleague Brittany Higgins in defence towards a defamation declare.
Mr Lehrmann launched defamation motion towards Community Ten and Information Corp for his or her protection of rape allegations made by his former colleague.
Each firms filed defences with the Federal Courtroom on Tuesday night time, becoming a member of with journalist Lisa Wilkinson who can be looking for to show the allegation true as a part of her personal defence.
Courtroom paperwork outlining the community’s defence say it should depend on the “substantial imbalance of energy” between Mr Lehrmann and Ms Higgins whereas they labored within the workplace of then-defence minister Linda Reynolds.
Brittany Higgins receives a hug from journalist Lisa Wilkinson outdoors Parliament Home on 15 March, 2021 in Canberra on the “March 4 Justice”. Supply: Getty / Sam Mooy
Attorneys for Ten will declare Mr Lehrmann “was sexually attracted” to Ms Higgins and “tried to kiss” her within the days main as much as the alleged rape.
The community’s defence will depend on Mr Lehrmann’s “lies, inconsistencies and consciousness of guilt”, together with his differing explanations for going to Parliament Home on the night time of the alleged rape.
Mr Lehrmann additionally missed six calls from his then-girlfriend that night time, which the community references as being a “consciousness of guilt for having raped” Ms Higgins.
Ten will defend its publishing of Ms Higgins’ allegations as being within the public curiosity due to Mr Lehrmann’s function as a senior ministerial advisor.
The defence additionally particulars a number of conferences between Ten journalists, attorneys and Ms Higgins earlier than the interview with Ms Wilkinson was printed.
“Ten moderately believed that the knowledge it included within the issues complained of was true, and omitted any info which couldn’t be independently verified,” the defence says.
Attorneys additionally say the media firm made “cheap makes an attempt” to contact Mr Lehrmann to acquire his facet of the story earlier than the interview went to air, however he didn’t reply.
“Had Lehrmann responded to Ten’s makes an attempt to contact him, Ten would have included Lehrmann’s facet of the story, by together with his response or the substance of his response, within the issues complained of,” the defence says.
Ten additionally denies it recognized Mr Lehrmann within the unique report and stated his identify was not used with the broader manufacturing staff.
NewsLifeMedia, writer of stories.com.au, whose political editor Samantha Maiden can be named within the go well with, equally stated Mr Lehrmann was not recognized.
The corporate stated nothing had been offered to help Mr Lehrmann’s allegation, which it denies, that it acted with reckless indifference about whether or not the claims have been true or not.
Mr Lehrmann was not contacted previous to publication, however Information stated it was not essential to contact him as a result of he was not being recognized, had already declined to remark to Community Ten, and later instructed police he had no intention to answer media inquiries.
Statements of declare for Mr Lehrmann filed within the defamation motion stated his private status had been broken by the allegations.
“(Mr Lehrmann) has been enormously injured in his private {and professional} status and has been and might be introduced into public disrepute,” the assertion stated.
Mr Lehrmann has persistently denied the allegations.
He pleaded not responsible to sexual activity with out consent at his legal trial within the ACT Supreme Courtroom, which was aborted final yr due to juror misconduct.