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The previous political staffer was as a result of study on Thursday whether or not his defamation case over experiences of his alleged rape of Brittany Higgins had succeeded.
However, together with his draft judgment printed and able to be learn out, Justice Michael Lee on Tuesday agreed recent proof regarding leaked textual content messages ought to be admitted.
“That is clearly recent proof,” he mentioned within the Federal Court docket on Tuesday night.
An extra listening to might be heard on Thursday, with judgment delayed a minimum of per week.
Ten mentioned the possibly case-changing proof got here from a tv producer who had labored to safe an unique interview with Lehrmann for community rival Seven.
It included an allegation that Lehrmann, 28, supplied the producer greater than 2300 pages of “deeply private exchanges” between Higgins and her former boyfriend, in breach of the longstanding rule in authorized apply often known as the Harman endeavor.
Lehrmann acquired the fabric, going again years, whereas defending himself in a prison trial.
Lawyer Steven Whybrow and former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehmann arriving on the Federal Court docket of Australia in Sydney on 22 December, 2023. Supply: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Justice Lee mentioned the proof might change the dedication of the case and agreed with Ten that it went as to if Lehrman had abused the court docket course of.
Ten’s barrister Matthew Collins accused Lehrmann of giving his barristers directions “that will need to have been mistaken”.
His barristers had beforehand instructed Ten and the court docket the endeavor regarding Higgins’ messages had not been breached.
“This isn’t a trivial matter,” Collins mentioned.
“If the (producer) proof is accepted, our submission might be it is a very severe matter.”
Lehrmann, a former political staffer, is suing Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over a February 2021 report on The Undertaking the place Higgins was interviewed about her alleged raped in a Parliament Home workplace in March 2019.
He’s in search of intensive damages, saying these experiences have destroyed his status.
Lehrmann denies raping Higgins.
His barrister on Tuesday urged Justice Lee to dismiss the last-minute utility, saying each his shopper and Higgins had instructed many lies on oath.
“It is actually lipstick on a pig,” barrister Matthew Richardson mentioned.
“These things is trivial, it is simply not related and to provide go away to reopen on that form of materials could be inappropriate.”
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