Justice Michael Lee

Network Ten has argued that accused rapist Bruce Lerhmann’s evidence should be treated with “extreme suspicion” and rejected where it is not corroborated, as the judge overseeing Lehrmann’s defamation case against the broadcaster noted “real credit issues” with both Lehrmann and his accuser Brittany Higgins. 

Accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann’s denial that he had any sexual contact with his former colleague Brittany Higgins was “quite disgraceful conduct”, the judge presiding over his defamation trial has heard.

A lip reading expert has given evidence of his interpretation of CCTV footage at a bar on the night Bruce Lehrmann allegedly raped Brittany Higgins, saying he “encouraged” her to finish drinks, a claim the former Liberal staffer has denied.

Senator Linda Reynolds’ former chief of staff Fiona Brown has told a court she refused directions from two ministers to make a report to federal police, saying Brittany Higgins had not yet alleged she was sexually assaulted by fellow Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann and that the ministers were “covering themselves”.

The judge overseeing Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial against Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson has rejected a bid by the former chief of staff to then defence minister Linda Reynolds to avoid giving evidence on the basis of “harm it may cause to her health conditions”. 

The former chief of staff for MP Linda Reynolds has denied that Brittany Higgins disclosed an alleged sexual assault to her in March 2019.

Network Ten journalist Lisa Wilkinson has been accused of bias towards former defence minister Linda Reynolds because of a message she sent hours before an episode of The Project aired in which Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped in Parliament House, in which she said the senator was “lying through her teeth”.

Bruce Lehrmann will not call Brittany Higgins back to the witness box in his defamation trial against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilksinon to give evidence on a secret recording of a conversation between her fiancé and solicitor.

An investor class action against Virgin Australia has mounted a new challenge to a contentious indemnity clause, which the airline claims entitles it to receive periodic payments for its legal costs in defending the claims.

A judge overseeing the trial in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson has asked to see the legal advice Wilkinson received before giving her Logies acceptance speech last year, saying it was “inconceivable” any lawyer would have approved it.