In a big win for the network,which aired the allegations onThe Project in 2021,Lee found Lehrmann was “hell-bent” on having sex with Higgins that night in 2019,not caring whether Higgins understood or consented to intercourse in then-defence minister Linda Reynolds’ office.
Lee offered an array of withering assessments on Lehrmann’s evidence and conduct,including that he was unreliable,less than candid about his dealings with the Seven Network (where he had given an interview to theSpotlight program in exchange for $104,000 in rental costs),and that “he told deliberate lies”.
To describe him as a poor witness would be an “an exercise in understatement”,the judge said.
Lee was especially critical of Ten’s legal advice to Lisa Wilkinson before the 2022 Logies speech,in which she emphasised the truth of Higgins’ allegations,which led to a delay in Lehrmann’s ACT criminal trial.
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Lee said Ten’s conduct at various points was egregious,unjustifiable,and apt to cause disruption to the criminal justice system. He said the speech was “fraught with danger”,and that advice from Ten’s senior litigation solicitor,Tasha Smithies,approving the speech “could have imperilled Lehrmann’s right to a fair trial”.
“Insofar as Network Ten is concerned,its conduct in relation to the Logies speech given by Ms
Wilkinson was egregious,” Lee said.