Judge finds Bruce Lehrmann DID rape Brittany Higgins: Here's what Federal Court ... trends now
Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins at Parliament House after a long night of drinking, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee has found.
The former Liberal staffer sued Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson over an episode of The Project broadcast in February 2021.
In the interview, Ms Higgins went public with her allegations for the first time, claiming an unnamed staffer raped her at Parliament House in March 2019.
Mr Lehrmann claimed friends and colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist. He has always maintained his innocence.
But Justice Lee on Monday accepted there was 'no doubt' that Mr Lehrmann was identified in the program, but said he accepted the basis of the report.
Federal Court Justice Michael Lee ruled in Network 10's favour on Monday, determining that report was truthful in its allegations against Mr Lehrmann.
Network 10 had mounted two separate defences of their conduct - a substantial truth defence and qualified privilege.
Justice Lee first dealt with the qualified privilege defence, determining it 'fell short of the standard'.
That meant Justice Lee had to accept that Ten's report was, on the civil standard of basis of probabilities, factually correct.
After several hours of explanation, Justice Lee came to the conclusion: 'Mr Lehrmann did rape Brittany Higgins.'
Justice Lee determined that, contrary to Mr Lehrmann's evidence, sexual intercourse did occur, and that Ms Higgins did not consent.
'I am convinced that sexual intercourse took place,' the judge said.
Justice Lee said Mr Lehrmann was 'on top' of Ms Higgins and that she was unable to remove herself from the couch.
Mr Lehrmann was also pictured making his way into the Federal Court with his legal team
'Taking all my reservations as to the credibility and reliability of Ms Higgins into account, her evidence that she was not aware of her surroundings and became aware when he was on top of her struck me forcefully as being credible and having the ring of the truth,' he said.
'Ms Higgins did not consent to
