Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann instructed the Federal Court docket on Monday of his need to maintain a “tight circle” after he confronted the “shock” of being accused of rape on The Challenge almost three years in the past.
That internal circle seems to contain rousing sing-a-longs, if this video is any information, that includes Mr Lehrmann belting out a model of The Conflict traditional “I Fought The Legislation”.
The video that’s circulating amongst Liberal staffers and Canberra circles options Mr Lehrmann, who’s individually dealing with his fifth day within the witness field, singing a revised refrain of “And Bruce received”.
Within the video he’s consuming a glass of pink wine whereas singing in entrance of a print of a reclining Modigliani nude.
Information.com.au understands it was filmed on the NRL grand remaining weekend when Mr Lehrmann stayed with associates at a vacation rental on the Central Coast. There is no such thing as a suggestion of any illicit drug use on this vacation.
On Monday, Mr Lehrmann revealed in proof that he “spiralled” and turned to cocaine on the evening The Challenge interview with Brittany Higgins aired, telling mates: “Want luggage.”
Earlier this 12 months the Federal Court docket revealed messages between Mr Lehrmann and his ex-friend John Macgowan on the evening the story broke.
Requested in regards to the alternate by Ten’s barrister Matthew Collins KC on Monday, Mr Lehrmann agreed he was speaking about cocaine.
“I used to be in a nasty place,’’ Mr Lehrmann stated.
“You determined to spend a while that evening with some associates and that substance,’’ Dr Collins requested.
“Sure, Dr Collins. I spiralled fairly shortly,’’ Mr Lehrmann replied.
The barrister for Community Ten then requested if he’d requested for associates to deliver medicine.
“Sorry. Your response to spiralling was to ask for cocaine to be … to have cocaine dropped at you?”
Mr Lehrmann: “I used to be in a nasty place. Sure.”
In one other message, he texted Mr Macgowan, a former Liberal staffer.
“You stated ‘Comfortable days.’ That was a reference to cocaine being out there,’’ Dr Collins requested.
“Most likely,’’ Mr Lehrmann stated.
Lehrmann questioned over texts with ex-friends
Mr Lehrmann acquired a textual content from a mate referred to as Harry Hughes in regards to the “fairly cooked allegation” that Brittany Higgins had been raped at Parliament Home on the morning the story first broke, however insists he by no means knew the primary story was about him.
Mr Macgowan additionally texted him to ask if he had any gossip on “who the Canberra rape man is” however then later suggested him to not “out” himself because the accused.
The Federal Court docket heard on Monday of textual content messages despatched to Mr Lehrmann by his former mates Mr Hughes, who’s former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s nephew, and Mr Macgowan, who’s a former strategist and was giving him media recommendation.
“He’s good friend of yours?’’ Dr Collins requested.
“Not anymore,’’ Mr Lehrmann replied.
Mr Hughes, whom he has beforehand described in courtroom as an in depth good friend, despatched Mr Lehrmann a hyperlink to the information.com.au article titled “Parliament Home Rocked By Brittany Higgins’ Alleged Rape” and requested: “Know this chick?”
Mr Lehrmann responded that he “labored along with her briefly” and “(she) was at crew drinks and so on”.
At 11.17am, Mr Hughes texted Mr Lehrmann to say it was a “fairly cooked allegation” earlier than asking if he knew “who the man was”, to which Mr Lehrmann wrote: “Not the faintest concept. I haven’t been approached by anybody.”
About half an hour later, Mr Macgowan texted Mr Lehrmann to ask if he had “any gossip on who the Canberra rape man is”.
He continued: “The yarn says ‘rising star’ in order that guidelines out our mates, however who else?”
Mr Lehrmann replied he had “no concept within the slightest” and that he hadn’t been approached.
Later within the dialog, Mr Lehrmann texted Mr Macgowan to say he assumes “it should fizzle”, to which Mr Macgowan stated: “She (Ms Higgins) is on The Challenge tonight which isn’t precisely prime time stuff”.
Mr Lehrmann requested: “They wouldn’t title would they? Fairly slanderous stuff”.
Mr McGowan replied: “Nicely it’s defamatory.”
Neither the information.com.au article nor The Challenge named Mr Lehrmann, however he has argued in his defamation assertion of declare that their tales included particulars that would have recognized him to sure folks.
Mr Macgowan, who accompanied Mr Lehrmann to courtroom through the prison trial, additionally suggested him to not difficulty an announcement denying allegations he had raped Brittany Higgins earlier than The Challenge’s interview went to air, saying: “Don’t try this, don’t try this.”
Dr Collins indicated Mr Macgowan suggested Mr Lehrmann “that that was the worst factor” he might do and stated one other good friend with media expertise stated it was “a really unhealthy concept”.
Each Mr Hughes and Mr Macgowan have been then concerned find a prison lawyer for Mr Lehrmann, referred to as Ricky Korn.
Nonetheless, Mr Lehrmann instructed the Federal Court docket on Monday he was now not associates together with his two mates.
Mr Lehrmann was beforehand grilled within the Federal Court docket in March, 2023 about whether or not he knew the article was about him when it was revealed in 2021.
Ten’s barrister requested Mr Lehrmann if he was “placing on a courageous face” as a result of he was “properly conscious that you simply have been the topic of Ms Higgins’ allegations”.
“No,’’ Mr Lehrmann replied.
Mr Lehrmann was additionally grilled about his communications with a journalist from The Day by day Mail referred to as Charlotte Karp.
The Day by day Mail revealed a narrative stating that Channel Ten “botched” its try to contact Mr Lehrmann when making ready the story.
Mr Lehrmann stated he didn’t know the way that materials was sourced and recommended he had not spoken to Ms Karp.
Channel Ten’s legal professionals then requested Mr Lehrmann’s legal professionals to provide any related communications.
Nonetheless, he stated when he first learn the information.com.au article he didn’t realise that it was about him.
“No I didn’t,” Mr Lehrmann stated when Dr Collins requested if he thought it was him.
Mr Lehrmann stated he didn’t assume he was the person accused till he was contacted by a reporter, Rosie Lewis from The Australian, at 2pm, who claimed that “authorities sources” stated it was him.
“Did you realise once you learn the (information.com.au) article by Samantha Maiden and that it was about you?’’ he was requested.
“Not at that second. I didn’t,’’ he stated
The listening to continues.
