A high-profile Australian #MeToo trial ended unexpectedly — and without a verdict

Brittany Higgins spent several days under cross-examination for the trial of her alleged rapist, Bruce Lehrmann. The trial has come to an abrupt end after a juror brought outside research into deliberations. (Martin Ollman/Getty Images)

The high-profile trial of a former Australian parliamentary staffer accused of raping his colleague ended abruptly on Thursday (local time) — and without a verdict — after the judge said a juror consulted outside research against her instructions.

The BBC reported that court officials in Canberra, Australia's capital city, discovered an academic study left behind by a member of the jury during a "routine tidying" of the jury room.