An Australian judge recently made a significant decision to reopen a high-profile defamation trial involving an alleged rapist and a media company. The judge's statement, 'Let sunlight be the best disinfectant,' set the stage for the public disclosure of sordid claims related to the case.
The trial shed light on the alleged tactics employed by producers from a major television network to secure an interview with a former government staffer. These tactics reportedly included the use of illicit drugs, sex workers, a golf trip, and expensive meals.
The defamation case captured the attention of the Australian public, particularly when key parties testified in court last year. Anticipation was high for a ruling, but the addition of a new witness prompted thousands to tune in to a live broadcast of the reopened case on YouTube.
The story originated in 2019 when government staffer Brittany Higgins accused a colleague of raping her in Parliament House after a night of drinking in Canberra. The accused, Bruce Lehrmann, denied any sexual activity and pleaded not guilty to the charge of sexual intercourse without consent.
However, the trial was halted in 2022 due to juror misconduct. Prosecutors decided not to pursue a retrial, citing concerns about the impact on Higgins' health. With no opportunity to disprove the allegations in court, Lehrmann opted to take legal action against media companies for their initial reporting of the case.
While two outlets settled the claim by paying substantial legal costs, Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson chose to contest the allegations using a truth defense. This strategy required their legal team to demonstrate, based on the balance of probabilities, that Lehrmann did not rape Higgins.
