Head of Bruce Lehrmann inquiry ‘infected’ by News Corp journalist against prosecutor, court told

The ACT supreme court has heard Walter Sofronoff had 273 interactions with Janet Albrechtsen from The Australian over seven months. Photograph: Jono Searle/AAP

Walter Sofronoff maintained “extensive communication” with a columnist at the Australian – who provided Bruce Lehrmann’s contact details and passed him information – while examining the failed prosecution, a court has been told.

The former Queensland judge’s 273 interactions with Janet Albrechtsen over seven months were raised as part of a legal challenge by the former ACT director of public prosecutions, Shane Drumgold, who seeks to quash the ACT board of inquiry’s findings.