Spotlight executive producer Mark Llewellyn has confirmed his resignation from Channel Seven, which comes after allegations made during a defamation trial that the network reimbursed Bruce Lehrmann for money spent on cocaine and sex workers.
Both Seven and Llewllyn have denied those allegations.
Minutes after Justice Michael Lee began delivering his judgment in the Lehrmann defamation case Seven issued a statement saying “Mark Llewellyn no longer works for the Seven Network”.
Both Seven and Llewellyn refused to confirm last week that the television producer had left the network. But Llewellyn confirmed on Monday he had resigned his position last week.
“I am proud of Spotlight and proud of the dedicated team who make it,” he said on Monday. “I repeat that any suggestion that I was aware of, condoned or arranged payments for illegal or unsavoury activities is wrong.”
Former Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach gave evidence earlier this month at the trial against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson about some of the tactics allegedly used by the program to secure an exclusive interview with Lehrmann.
The network denied the allegations made in the federal court, saying: “Seven did not reimburse Bruce Lehrmann for expenditure that has allegedly been used to pay for illegal drugs or prostitutes and has never done so,” a spokesperson said at the time.
News Corp has reported Llewellyn has handed in his company security pass “and will not be returning” but the network has not confirmed the story.
Llewellyn, a veteran of tabloid TV at Nine and Seven, has reportedly hired employment lawyer John Laxon to manage his exit. Laxon said no comment when contacted by Guardian Australia.
Outgoing commercial director, Bruce McWilliam, appeared to blame Llewellyn for the network’s failure to produce documents on subpoena to the federal court in the defamation case.
“Given Mr Llewellyn’s status as a senior producer, I had no reason to doubt his indication that no written or electronic communications with Mr Lehrmann existed, and consistent with that indication extensive searches of Seven’s email system were not performed at that time,” McWilliam said in an affidavit.
Auerbach claimed in court he was offered a pay rise and a promotion after he admitted to putting $10,000 on a corporate credit card to pay for massages for Lehrmann.
Auerbach’s solicitor, Rebekah Giles, told the court her client had left Seven after sustaining a psychiatric injury while working on the Spotlight program.
Seven has denied he was offered a pay rise or a promotion.
Ten’s barrister Dr Matt Collins KC said Lehrmann benefited from Auerbach’s use of Seven’s corporate credit card.
“Mr Auerbach did spend in excess of $10,000 on Mr Lehrmann on Seven’s corporate credit card to pay for prostitutes and drugs,” he said in closing submissions.
“And Mr Lehrmann benefited from those purchases.”
Collins told the court that after admitting to these expenditures on the company credit card Auerbach did not lose his job.
“Mr Auerbach was being kept in the fold,” Collins said. “His job was to continue babysitting Mr Lehrmann.”
