Lehrmann loses final bid to appeal Higgins rape finding
Disgraced former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann is left with no option to appeal a devastating contempt loss, including after the judge found he likely raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House.
The 30-year-old actor took his case against Network Ten to the High Court, where the pair challenged the courts’ findings that the broadcaster had not defamed him by broadcasting Ms Higgins’ claim during an interview on The Project in February 2021.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected Lehrmann’s application for special leave to appeal.
Typically, the court will refuse to hold a full hearing if it considers that the appeal does not relate to a significant issue in Australian law.
In April 2024, Federal Court Judge Michael Lee initially dismissed the 30-year-old’s case against Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson, describing it as “multi-faceted”.
The judge’s findings, including that on the balance of probabilities Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins, were upheld on appeal by the Full Federal Court in December.
Ms Higgins had been out drinking with colleagues, including Lehrmann, in Parliament House in 2019, before being found in the office of their boss, Senator Linda Reynolds.
The alleged rape took place there.
Lehrmann, 30, has consistently denied that any sexual behavior took place, saying he returned in the early hours to write notes on French submarine contracts.
This claim was flatly rejected by Judge Lee, who said the young man was seen kissing Miss Higgins, whom he found attractive.
“Now a man in such a situation has French submarine contracts on his mind, or is there something else on his mind?” the judge joked.
A criminal trial against Lehrmann in the ACT was derailed by juror misconduct.
He was denied another hearing and there were no findings against him in criminal court.
The failed High Court bid could lead to Lehrmann being forced into bankruptcy due to court rulings, which left Ten with $2 million in legal bills.
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National Sexual Abuse and Resolution Support Service 1800 211 028
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