Graphic shows key difference in Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann’s accounts of alleged rape as she makes stunning confession about criminal case

Brittany Higgins’ cross-examination by Bruce Lehrmann’s lawyer, Steven Whybrow SC, began in the Federal Court on Thursday morning.

Ms Higgins agreed she had given evidence at the criminal trial in October last year and understood she had to tell the truth.

She added: “I admit that I was not always right and that to some extent I speculated and got things wrong.

“I thought I was telling the truth, but I wasn’t always right.”

In the run-up to this hearing, she said, “I’m much better prepared.”

Brittany Higgins told the Federal Court on Thursday she was pleased when News Corp journalist Samantha Maiden told her in a recorded telephone conversation that Bruce Lehrmann would deny having any sexual contact with her.

Ms Higgins was asked when she found out that Mr Lehrmann would not only plead not guilty to raping her, but would say they had not had sex at all – consensual or otherwise.

She told the court she was not aware Ms Maiden had recorded the conversation.

Ms Higgins was asked to recall what she said during that conversation.

“I said something like, ‘Oh god, you made my weekend, I thought he was going to say it was consensual,'” Higgins told the court.

Asked by Network Ten’s barrister Matthew Collins KC to explain that response, Ms Higgins said: ‘I was relieved.

“I thought it would be a balanced debate about consensual sex.”

Brittany Higgins later worked for Senator Michaelia Cash in 2019 when the office received a media inquiry about her alleged rape in 2019.

In the Federal Court on Thursday, Ms Higgins said she met with Senator Cash and her chief of staff, Daniel Try, who told her about the media investigation.

Ms Higgins said she was saddened that her alleged assault had been raised again and that the media had known about it.

She walked into Senator Cash’s office and was greeted with a hug.

“Michaelia Cash immediately embraced me in a hug,” Ms. Higgins said.

‘She reassured me, with words to the effect that everything would be fine.’

Network Ten’s barrister, Matthew Collins KC, asked what the content of the meeting was, to which Ms Higgins replied: ‘That they would deal with it – they would make the media investigation go away.’

The court then heard a voicemail left by Senator Cash for Ms Higgins. In the recording she said: ‘Hi, Michaelia, I just came to check on you.

Referring to an event, she said: ‘You looked beautiful on Friday and I hope you had a good time.

‘I hope everything is alright. Daniel has everything under control, I promise you that.’

Brittany Higgins arrived at the Federal Court on Thursday morning with her lawyer Leon Zwier and friend Emma Webster.

Wednesday was a difficult day as she cried as she recounted the details of her alleged rape.

However, she could face more turmoil Thursday during cross-examination by Steven Whybrow, Bruce Lehrmann’s attorney.

This is what happened in court on Wednesday.

Brittany Higgins was all smiles outside the courtroom before what would be a disturbing and highly emotional day on the witness stand.

When Ms Higgins entered the Federal Court on Wednesday morning, she would have known this was the day she would have to recount her alleged rape in front of a judge, silk, law students, reporters and more than 10,000 spectators who tuned in to the livestream.

Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann were both asked to mark separate diagrams of Linda Reynolds’ ministerial suite where she claims he raped her on the evening of March 23, 2019.

The two sketches were published on the Federal Court website on Wednesday evening and show some similarities.

Both diagrams clearly indicate where different people sat in the office, along with the entrances and exits.

One glaring difference, however, is that Ms. Higgins’ diagram (below) shows a stick figure lying on a couch in Senator Reynolds’ office — while Mr. Lehrmann’s (above) does not.

The footage illustrates the stark contrast in Ms Higgins and Mr Lehrmann’s version of events that evening, when she claims he raped her on a sofa in Senator Reynolds’ ministerial office.

Earlier on Wednesday, Ms Higgins described her alleged rape in graphic detail.

She told the court she arrived at Parliament House with Mr Lehrmann late in the evening before security forces allowed them into the ministerial suite.

Ms Higgins recalled sitting on a bench overlooking the Prime Minister’s courtyard. The next thing she remembered was waking up on the couch with pain in her leg.

She said, “Bruce had sex with me.”

Mr. Lehrmann told his version of events last week, and his story couldn’t be more different.

He told the court they were allowed into the ministerial suite and went their separate ways.

Mr. Lehrmann said he picked up his keys, took notes on Question Time, called an Uber and left.

He strongly denies having any sexual interaction with Ms Higgins

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Network 10 in federal court over her 2021 interview with Brittany Higgins where she alleged he raped her at Parliament House in 2019.

Although his name was not given, he claims friends and former colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.

He has consistently maintained his innocence.

The trial began on November 22 and Mr Lehrmann gave evidence over five days.

Brittany Higgins began her primary examination Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday, she described her alleged rape in graphic detail.

She will continue her testimony on Thursday.