ABC

ABC and Network Ten have dropped their fight in a defamation case by former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann over missing CCTV footage from the night of Brittany Higgins’ alleged rape, after learning the footage was automatically overridden.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has won its “highly unusual” application to reinstate its defence in a defamation case by ex-commando Heston Russell, after dropping it earlier this week in a bid to protect a source’s identity.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has dropped its only remaining defence in a defamation case by ex-commando Heston Russell over articles that alleged he was involved in war crimes, citing promises to protect a source’s identity. 

ABC and Network Ten are “very concerned” that Parliament House claims to not have CCTV footage from the night former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann allegedly raped Brittany Higgins, and have flagged an application to question a government officer over the claim.

The ABC acted with malice when it aired Brittany Higgins’ defamatory National Press Club speech in full, and the broadcaster’s public interest defence won’t save it, accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann has said.

The ABC is relying on a new statutory public interest defence in a defamation case brought by accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann over its coverage of a National Press Club speech by his accuser, former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.

Former Army major Heston Russell has panned the ABC’s argument that it is not liable to pay damages in his defamation case because he identified himself and was given an opportunity to respond to stories that suggested he was involved in murdering an Afghan prisoner.

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has accused the Australian Broadcasting Corporation of a “contemptuous attempt” to prejudice the jury in a criminal trial over his alleged rape of former colleague Brittany Higgins in Parliament House.

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has filed defamation proceedings against the ABC, the third such lawsuit he has brought after suing Ten and a News Corp Unit over publications airing the rape allegations of his former colleague Brittany Higgins.

A judge has found that the ABC defamed ex-commando Heston Russell by implying he was involved in murdering an Afghan prisoner, but he rejected claims that the broadcaster’s coverage implied he was actively responsible as the shooter.