Brittany Higgins has broken down several times in a Sydney court. She was recounting her allegations about being raped at parliament house in Canberra. The court is considering a defamation claim by Bruce Lehrmann. He's suing network ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over the interview in which Ms Higgins first aired her claims.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00 Brittany Higgins today gave a graphic account of allegations she was raped by Bruce Lehrman
00:07 more than four years ago on a couch in the office of Senator Linda Reynolds, where they
00:13 both worked. It was a repeat of evidence in Bruce Lehrman's trial last year. That trial
00:19 was ultimately abandoned and there are no findings against Mr Lehrman, who is seeking
00:24 substantial damages over the interview. From the witness box, Ms Higgins told how she'd
00:29 invited Mr Lehrman and others to drinks at Canberra bar The Dock, but barely remembers
00:35 a nightclub later, although she did recall Mr Lehrman getting into her space. "I felt
00:41 him being handsy with me." CCTV shows the pair later entering Parliament House, shortly
00:48 after which the assault is alleged to have happened. Ms Higgins became tearful today
00:54 as she described events leading up to the incident, and cried when asked about whether
00:59 she'd told her father. She said the week after the alleged assault, Mr Lehrman acted
01:04 as if nothing had happened, even putting a smiley face on an email, when the pair had
01:10 previously not been particularly friendly. "It really freaked me out, and still does."
01:16 She also told of a meeting in Senator Reynolds' office where the alleged assault was discussed,
01:22 at a table beside the couch. "I barely spoke. I was traumatised being back in the room."
01:29 Network Ten wants to argue truth in its defence, which is why Ms Higgins had to give evidence.
01:36 Ms Higgins told the court what triggered her decision to go to Network Ten was a Four Corners
01:42 program about the treatment of women at Parliament House. She said she felt sick and angry, and
01:49 that if she didn't come forward with her allegations, she'd be complicit. The hearing will continue
01:55 tomorrow.
01:55 [BLANK_AUDIO]