Seven hands documents following Spotlight interview

Seven Network has handed over documents relating to its 7News Spotlight interview with Bruce Lehrmann, in court this morning.

Lehrmann filed defamation proceedings against 10 in February over an interview with his former colleague Brittany Higgins on The Project, broadcast on February 15, 2021.

He alleged the interview conveyed a series of defamatory meanings, including that he raped Higgins in then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds’ office in 2019. He denies the rape allegation.

Lehrmann was not named in the broadcast but his lawyers say he was identified via other means.

Lawyers for Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson  today alleged that a “calculated” and “concerted” media campaign using restricted court material was being waged to pressure and dissuade witnesses from giving evidence in the defamation trial brought by Bruce Lehrmann.

Sue Chrysanthou SC, counsel for Wilkinson, and Matt Collins KC, counsel for Network 10, on Friday complained of a significant amount of publicity on Channel Seven and in News Corp publications in recent days.

They complained the coverage relied on material that had been produced under compulsory orders during Lehrmann’s criminal trial, but was never tendered, which would be against rules governing the sharing of such material.

The subject material included a copy of the contents of Brittany Higgins’ phone, recordings of police interviews with important witnesses, and a recording of the five-hour pre-interview meeting between Higgins, David Sharaz, Wilkinson, and producer Angus Llewellyn.

Chrysanthou said it was clear that someone was engaged in a concerted campaign and accused media outlets of “dishonestly” editing the five-hour tape.

“There was no attempt to approach my client prior to that broadcast, to ask her questions about what was happening in that audio recording,’’ she said.

“We’ve written to Channel 7 about this. And we have said that this has led us to infer that you have no interest in our client’s version and the whole purpose of the broadcast was just to impugn her. But also to infer you didn’t want us to know that you have this audio recording, because that would have led to an injunction application.”

She told the court, “[The] publicity has been to such an extent that it tends to and has had the effect of … putting improper pressure on my client, overwhelmingly so.

“Now these media organisations are, it would appear, wholly publishing one side of the story.”

Lehrmann has also commenced proceedings against the ABC for broadcasting a live address by Higgins to the National Press Club. Separate proceedings against News Corp, filed at the same time, have since settled.

Earlier, the court ruled against having a jury trial, citing the significant publicity around the case and the difficulties in guarding against prejudice.

Meanwhile Liberal frontbencher Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has demanded an apology from Lisa Wilkinson after struggling to pronounce her name in an audio leak, broadcast on SKY News.

“Obviously they’re rather derogatory and racist comments. But what would you expect from individuals that belong to the woke class. That level of arrogance and ignorance doesn’t surprise me,” Senator Price told 2GB on Friday morning.

“That level of arrogance. It’s quite disappointing but it doesn’t surprise me. I would be interested to know who their black friends are.

“I would absolutely expect an apology from the 10 Network, from Lisa Wilkinson herself, that would be the decent thing to do.”

Source: The Guardian, The Age, news.com.au