Defamation lawsuit against Bruce Lehrmann: Read the email Brittany Higgins sent to the man she accused of rape three days after the alleged incident: Call a friend’
On Friday morning, part of Bruce Lehrmann’s interview on 7News Spotlight was played in Federal Court.
During that TV interview, which aired earlier this year, Mr Lehrmann was questioned about why he gave three different reasons for going to Parliament House with Brittany Higgins on the night of the alleged attack, before 2am on March 23, 2019.
He told security he was there to pick up some documents. Three days later he told his chief of staff Fiona Brown that he was there for a drink.
He then told Australian Federal Police in April 2021 that he was there to collect his keys and take notes on Question Time.
On Friday, Ten’s barrister Matthew Collins QC asked in court: ‘Do you agree that the version you told Ms Brown was a lie?’
Dr. Collins pointed to evidence given on Thursday when Mr Lehrmann agreed there was alcohol in his office at Parliament House.
During the 2021 police interview, he said there was no alcohol in his office. On Thursday, he admitted on the stand that part of the statement was incorrect.
Mr Lehrmann was subsequently questioned when he became aware that his statement to the Australian Federal Police was incorrect.
Dr. Collins asked whether he became aware of the flawed evidence during Ms Brown’s testimony at the jury trial last October.
“When she gave that evidence, did you already know that?” he asked.
‘I suggest that it must have been so, because you were in the criminal trial and heard Fiona Brown give her account of what you said to her, and now you agree with it.’
Mr Lehrmann disagreed saying he realized part of his police statement was incorrect when Ms Brown gave her evidence in court last year.
On Thursday, Lehrmann said in court that he had been summoned to a meeting with his chief of staff, Fiona Brown, who asked why he entered Parliament House on the night of the alleged attack.
“I told her I came to drink whisky,” Mr Lehrmann told the court.
Mr Whybrow asked: ‘Have you started drinking whisky?’
Mr. Lehrmann said, “No, I didn’t.”
Mr Whybrow asked: ‘Why did you tell her that?’
Mr. Lehrman responded, “Because if I had told her I was looking at briefs, the flow-on effect might have been greater.”
Mr Whybrow asked what he meant by ‘flow-on’, with the former employee saying he was concerned the Australian Federal Police would become involved.
Mr Lehrmann said Ms Brown did not mention Ms Higgins at all during their meeting and that he had no reason to believe his dismissal had anything to do with Ms Higgins.