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Key PointsEx-producer Taylor Auerbach has concluded testifying about Bruce Lehrmann in a defamation trial. Auerbach advised the court docket Lehrmann mentioned that he would solely get entry to confidential paperwork “once you signal me”.Seven has broadly denied allegations made by Auerbach in court docket.
This text accommodates references to sexual assault.
A former TV producer alleges Bruce Lehrmann promised entry to paperwork when Seven signed him up for an unique interview on its Highlight program.
Taylor Auerbach, who beforehand labored for the Seven Community, advised a Federal Court docket defamation trial Lehrmann later leaked textual content messages extracted by police from alleged sufferer Brittany Higgins’ telephone.
Lehrmann, a former political staffer, is suing over a 2021 interview, throughout which Higgins alleged she had been raped in Parliament Home in 2019.
Lehrmann was not named within the interview, however he alleges he was identifiable and that the interview defamed him.
The messages got here from a doc compiled forward of Lehrmann’s trial for allegedly raping Higgins in Parliament Home in 2019, Auerbach advised the court docket as he gave a second day of proof within the Federal Court docket on Friday.
Lehrmann rejects that something sexual occurred between himself and Higgins. His 2022 prison trial within the ACT was derailed on account of juror misconduct, with prosecutors dropping the costs in opposition to him over fears for Higgins’ psychological well being.
Lehrmann has additionally denied offering Seven with any data for the Highlight program, moreover his interview.
Auerbach mentioned he helped woo Lehrmann to participate in an unique interview for Seven’s Highlight present affairs program.
In an affidavit, Auerbach mentioned he was additionally despatched messages between Higgins and journalist Peter Fitzsimmons, which made up a part of the confidential police file.
Auerbach mentioned he was despatched pictures of a doc on a laptop computer displaying screenshots of textual content messages between the pair.
He claimed the pictures had been taken by Highlight govt producer Mark Llewellyn, whose picture he claimed to recognise mirrored on the laptop computer display.
Auerbach advised the court docket that in a dinner at Sydney restaurant Spice Temple in March 2023, Llewellyn requested Lehrmann if he had paperwork for the prison proceedings, to which he replied that he did.
Auerbach went on to allege that Lehrmann made copies of a few of an estimated 500 pages of double-sided paperwork from the prison case at Seven’s workplace at Eveleigh.
“I considered among the paperwork that had been being copied and will see that they had been reveals from the applicant’s prison proceedings,” Auerbach mentioned in his affidavit.
“I noticed, by means of instance, Ms Higgins’ textual content messages.”
In response to Auerbach, Lehrmann advised him on a number of events that night he would solely get entry to the paperwork “once you signal me”.
Seven has additionally broadly denied Auerbach’s allegations, labelling them “false and deceptive” and including that it didn’t reveal journalists’ sources.
When referred to as as a witness on Thursday, Auerbach claimed he was tasked to babysit Lehrmann and court docket him for the interview.
He advised the court docket that on one event in early 2023, he and Lehrmann had dined collectively at an upmarket Potts Level restaurant in Sydney’s east earlier than going to a resort room within the metropolis.
“Channel Seven had put Bruce up on the Meriton for what he described as a ‘coming right down to Sydney to unwind’ form of journey,” Auerbach mentioned.
When the pair returned to the resort suite, Lehrmann allegedly produced a bag of cocaine, which he bought throughout dinner, and started looking the web for intercourse staff.
Auerbach mentioned he was involved by Lehrmann’s behaviour, texting his boss on the time Steve Jackson, that the potential interviewee was “on the warpath”.
“I believe I used the phrases, ‘that is f***ed’,” he advised the court docket.
Justice Michael Lee had been poised to ship his ultimate judgment on the defamation motion this week, however postponed giving his ruling, permitting Community Ten to reopen their case after Auerbach’s claims got here to mild.
If confirmed, Lehrmann’s alleged leaking of paperwork from the deserted prison trial can be in breach of what’s often called the Harman enterprise, which prevents data not tendered in court docket getting used for different functions.
Matthew Richardson SC, representing Lehrmann, put to Auerbach that he was being untruthful in his account in an effort to harm his former employer and colleagues at Seven, which the previous TV producer denied.
If this story has raised any points for you, assist is on the market at Lifeline on 13 11 14.
When you or somebody you recognize desires to speak about sexual assault or harassment, household or home violence, name 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or go to www.1800RESPECT.org.au
In an emergency, name 000.
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