Explosive never-before-heard audio of Bruce Lehrmann’s ‘serious lie’ is revealed as ex-Liberal staffer sues Channel 10 for defamation
The Federal Court has released a trove of never-before-seen images and audio as part of Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation battle with Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson.
The Federal Court on Monday released a trove of audio material and CCTV footage as part of Lehrmann’s successful defamation lawsuit against broadcaster and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.
The former political aide sued over Ms Higgins’ interview with The Project, in which she alleged she was raped by Mr Lehrmann in Parliament House. Judge Michael Lee is expected to deliver his verdict in the coming months.
The court on Monday uploaded CCTV footage of Ms Higgins, wearing a white cocktail dress, and Mr Lehrmann entering the Parliament Buildings in the early hours of Saturday, March 23, 2019.
After a night out with colleagues at two bars, the two staffers entered Parliament House just before 1.45am.
Mr Lehrmann (pictured) arrives at the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney in February
Mr Lehrmann and Ms Higgins are pictured entering the parliament building on the night of the alleged rape
Ms Higgins (pictured) took off her shoes as she entered Parliament
An audio recording released by the court captures the moment Mr. Lehrmann buzzes the intercom and asks a security guard to let him in.
“Oh hey buddy, Bruce Lehrmann here with Minister Linda Reynolds,” Mr. Lehrmann says on the recording.
‘We have been asked to collect some documents. I forgot my pass.’
“Uh, just a minute,” the guard replies.
“Thanks mate, we’re just at the ministerial entrance,” says Mr Lehrmann.
During the trial, lawyers for Network 10 and Ms Wilkinson attacked the explanations Mr Lehrmann gave for entering Parliament House in the early morning.
In his testimony, he said he went back to Senator Reynolds’ office to collect his keys and, while sitting at his desk, took notes on ministerial briefings.
On the witness stand, he admitted he lied to get past security.
When asked by his barrister Steve Whybrow SC why he did not explain that he had left his keys on his desk and needed them to get into his apartment this weekend, he said: ‘I thought security would say ‘go leave and come back next’. week’ and I had to go home.’
But Channel 10’s lawyers branded it a “serious lie” that “involved Senator Reynolds in his deception.”
“If the real reason Mr. Lehrmann sought access to the ministerial suite was to get his keys back, he could have explained to security that he had locked himself out of his apartment over the weekend,” the network’s lawyers said in their final statement. released by the court.
Ms Higgins (pictured) jogged briefly to catch up with Mr Lehrmann, who was walking ahead of her
Ms Higgins and Mr Lehrmann (both pictured with security guard) were captured on CCTV walking to Minister Reynold’s office
The moment the pair entered Minister Reynold’s office (photo with guard)
“He accepted that he could have told security that, but said he did not tell security that reason because they would have thought it was a ‘small thing’.”
At the heart of the case is what happened behind closed doors in Senator Reynolds’ suite between 1:48 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on the morning of March 23, 2019.
Ms Higgins has claimed she passed out and woke up on a sofa and Mr Lehrmann sat on top of her and raped her.
Mr Lehrmann has denied having any sexual contact with Ms Higgins, saying that when he entered the senator’s office he went to the left to his desk and she went to the right and that he did not see her again that morning.
CCTV footage released by the court on Monday shows Ms Higgins and Mr Lehrmann entering parliament at around 1.45am and then leaving separately 7.5 hours apart.
The security vision shows them approaching the security checkpoint and putting their belongings in a bin before walking through.
Mr. Lehrmann, in a blue shirt and black pants, goes first, followed by Ms. Higgins.
She goes through it twice, but is told to take off her shoes after activating the metal detector.
She struggles to put on her shoes and decides to continue with her high heels in her hand and her bag under her arm.
From another angle, Ms. Higgins can be seen starting a short, light jog in an attempt to catch up with Mr. Lehrmann, who had already walked away.
CCTV footage captured Mr Lehrmann (pictured) leaving Parliament House at 2.33am before exiting through a gate
Ms Higgins (pictured) left Parliament House just after 10am
Further CCTV footage shows Mr Lehrmann and Ms Higgins being led through the corridors of Parliament House by a security guard, Nikola Anderson.
Mr. Lehrmann pulls his phone out of his pocket and looks at it as they approach Senator Reynolds’ office and are escorted inside.
They enter through the doors at 1:48 am and 15 seconds, according to the camera images.
What happened in the senator’s office over the next 45 minutes is the crux of the matter.
Mr Lehrmann is seen leaving parliament at 2.33am, walking out through security checkpoints before exiting through a gate.
Ms Higgins is seen on security camera footage leaving Parliament House through the security checkpoint just after 10am. She wears a jacket she took from a box in the senator’s office and waves to a security guard as she passes.