By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use.
Accept
WhatsNew2DayWhatsNew2Day
  • Home
  • Australia
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • US
  • World
Reading: News Corp joins Ten, Wilkinson in seeking to prove rape in Lehrmann defamation case
Share
Aa
WhatsNew2DayWhatsNew2Day
Aa
  • Home
  • Contact
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • Australia
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • US
  • World
Follow US
© 2022 WhatsNew2Day News Network. All Rights Reserved.
WhatsNew2Day > Australia > News Corp joins Ten, Wilkinson in seeking to prove rape in Lehrmann defamation case
Australia

News Corp joins Ten, Wilkinson in seeking to prove rape in Lehrmann defamation case

Last updated: 2023/03/07 at 8:31 PM
Jacky 2 weeks ago
Share
Bruce Lehrmann's lawsuit against Network Ten and News Corp also names journalists Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden as defendants.
SHARE

News Corp and Maiden, both of whom are represented by Melbourne lawyer Renee Enbom, KC, filed a joint defense on Tuesday night that was released hours later.

In their written defenses, Ten and News Corp join Wilkinson in arguing that the court should not grant Lehrmann’s request to extend a one-year statute of limitations for filing a libel claim.

The interviews central to the lawsuits, which marked Higgins’ first public remarks, were published two years ago. The issue of the statute of limitations is expected to be addressed at a preliminary hearing on March 16. The parties will attend an initial case management hearing on Wednesday.

Bruce Lehrmann’s lawsuit against Network Ten and News Corp also names journalists Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden as defendants.Credit:Nine

If the court grants the time extension and the case goes to trial, Ten, Wilkinson and News Corp have indicated they will seek to rely on a range of defenses, including truth and qualified privilege — a defense related to public interest publications where a publisher acted reasonably.

One of the issues in the case is whether Lehrmann was identified by the publications. Neither News Corp nor Ten named Lehrmann, but he was subsequently named in the media in August 2021 after being accused of having sexual intercourse without consent.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge. His trial was aborted last October due to juror misconduct and the charges were later dropped in full due to concerns about Higgins’ mental health. Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence.

Ten and News Corp deny in their written defense that they identified Lehrmann.

If the court rules that Lehrmann has been identified by the broadcast, Ten and News Corp admit to conveying the defamatory claims his lawyers alleged, including the central claim of rape.

In support of their defense of the truth, Ten and News Corp have laid out a series of particulars, including the claim that “there was a substantial and marked imbalance in power and experience between Lehrmann and Higgins” when she took office in March 2019 after a stint in Reynolds’ office . in the office of then Secretary of State Steve Ciobo.

By then, Lehrmann had “worked for Reynolds for at least a year” and was the oldest member of staff in the office next to the chief of staff, the defense says, while Higgins was the youngest.

Ten’s lawyers also say Lehrmann “conceived to meet Higgins” on March 2, 2019, at the Kingston Hotel in Canberra with a senior media adviser to his boss, Reynolds.

“Higgins understood that her meeting (with the senior media consultant) … was a form of interview, for the purpose of meeting and getting to know members of Reynolds’ team better,” the defense said.

“In fact, unbeknownst to Higgins, the meeting… was not a job interview at all, but rather arranged at Lehrmann’s behest because Lehrmann thought Higgins was physically attractive and he asked (the media consultant)… to get Higgins out invite you for a drink.

“Higgins was subsequently offered and accepted a position as an administrative officer and junior media adviser in Reynolds’ parliamentary office, which she began in early mid-March 2019.”

Should the case go to trial and the defense of truth be considered, Ten, Wilkinson and News Corp will have to prove on the basis of probability – meaning more likely than not – that Lehrmann raped Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.

While this is beyond reasonable doubt less onerous than the criminal standard of evidence, the so-called Briginshaw Principle applies in civil cases involving serious charges and requires courts to exercise caution when making serious findings.

Loading

Unlike a criminal trial, Lehrmann has no right to remain silent and a judge can draw negative conclusions if he does not testify. He is expected to appear on the witness stand and be questioned by attorneys for Ten, Wilkinson and News Corp. Higgins is expected to be subpoenaed to testify at the trial, should it go ahead.

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights of the day. Register here.

You Might Also Like

Shark attack near Delta Island, Western Australia

Transgender athlete, 46, wins New York women’s cycling event and says she feels like a ‘superhero’

Blinken dismisses Xi-Putin ties as ‘marriage of convenience’

Lisa Wilkinson’s Lawyer Shut Down For Demanding 39,823 Pages Of Bruce Lehrmann’s Phone Records

Lydia Thorpe tries to storm the stage as Kellie-Jay Keen aka Posie Parker speaking in Canberra

TAGGED: case, Corp, defamation, joins, Lehrmann, news, Prove, Rape, seeking, ten, Wilkinson
Jacky March 7, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Share
Previous Article Joe Biden, left, and Eric Adams NYC Mayor Adams says stumping for Biden’s reelection won’t stop him from criticizing feds’ migrant crisis response
Next Article Tenisha Tate-Austin and her husband Paul Austin said they were Black couple settle lawsuit against realtors who valued their home $500,000 below market rate

Latest

LeBron James and Kevin Durant have not faced each other since 2018
LeBron James and Kevin Durant have not faced each other since 2018
Sports
Authorities launched an investigation after a man was bitten by a shark off Australia's west coast (file image)
Shark attack near Delta Island, Western Australia
Australia
Tiffany Thomas, center, took first place at the Randall's Island Crit bike race in New York City over the weekend.
Transgender athlete, 46, wins New York women’s cycling event and says she feels like a ‘superhero’
US
Blinken dismisses Xi-Putin ties as ‘marriage of convenience’
Blinken dismisses Xi-Putin ties as ‘marriage of convenience’
World
Saliva guitarist Wayne Swinny dies after brain hemorrhage
Saliva guitarist Wayne Swinny dies after brain hemorrhage
News
Lisa Wilkinson's lawyer attempted to obtain Bruce Lehrmann's phone records dating back to 2017, but the request was denied.
Lisa Wilkinson’s Lawyer Shut Down For Demanding 39,823 Pages Of Bruce Lehrmann’s Phone Records
Australia

nba 2k23 mt

© WhatsNew2Day News Network. All Rights Reserved. Email: contact@whatsnew2day.com

  • Home
  • Contact
  • About us
  • Privacy Policy

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?