‘Not being tricky’: DPP Shane Drumgold backtracks on stunning claim

A choice to publicly recommend a political conspiracy was afoot within the Bruce Lehrmann case has been referred to as into query throughout a blunt cross-examination of the ACT’s high prosecutor.

Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC was grilled by counsel for the Australian Federal Police about his declare through the fifth day of an inquiry into how legal justice businesses dealt with Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation in opposition to her former colleague.

Mr Drumgold informed the listening to on Wednesday {that a} collection of “unusual occasions” led him to consider there was political strain to “make the matter go away”.

However only a day later he hosed down his suspicion, saying that he accepted he was incorrect to say a political conspiracy was “possible” having learn “all” statements tendered to the inquiry.

On Friday, Mr Drumgold withdrew any suggestion of political interference between federal ministers, the AFP commissioner and ACT Policing through the case.

Counsel Kate Richardson SC repeatedly questioned Mr Drumgold over why he didn’t put his fears {that a} authorities minister had pressured the highest cop to AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw immediately.

“I need to recommend to you that the rationale why this attainable conspiracy (was) not in your steady file observe, not in your grievance letter … was not in your witness assertion is as a result of there was no rational foundation to conclude from the underlying info you relied on that such a conspiracy was even a risk,” she requested.

“I agree that it was a risk. I used to be not keen to decide to writing nature of it as a result of I didn’t know the character of it,” Mr Drumgold responded.

“I used to be asking the query of whether or not there was a connection between the federal authorities and the Territory and ACT Policing.”

Requested whether or not he had learn Mr Kershaw’s witness assertion earlier than he made the allegation, Mr Drumgold couldn’t recall.

“I’m not being difficult … All must be certified by all of the statements I had,” he stated.

Mr Drumgold first raised considerations about “political and police conduct” through the investigation and trial in a scathing letter he despatched to ACT Chief of Police Neil Gaughan final November that sparked the inquiry.

Within the letter, Mr Drumgold outlined his suspicions in regards to the behaviour of police and witnesses, together with Liberal senators Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Money, which he repeated on Wednesday.

However Mr Drumgold referred to his mind-set on the time he penned the letter to Mr Gaughan.

Chair Walter Sofronoff KC pressed Mr Drumgold on why he didn’t qualify that on the time.

“Don’t you suppose that to state publicly that you just maintain that suspicion is an especially grave matter as a result of folks would rightly take very significantly what you say,” he requested.

“I used to be not saying, ‘Right here I sit right this moment, I maintain in my thoughts a risk’,” Mr Drumgold responded.

“I settle for I most likely ought to’ve injected the addendum.”

Mr Drumgold added it was “not apparent” to him that his reply would have prompt he nonetheless held the assumption a political conspiracy was attainable.

Talking in parliament on Thursday, Senator Reynolds rejected any suggestion she interfered within the case.

“This baseless suggestion was with none, any basis,” she stated.

“It ought to by no means, ever have come to this. It’s baffling and it’s disturbing that this view was provided beneath oath yesterday.”

The breakdown of the connection between the DPP and police all through the investigation and trial has been central to the inquiry.

Mr Lehrmann pleaded not responsible to at least one cost of sexually assaulting Ms Higgins earlier than the trial was aborted on account of jury misconduct.

He has frequently denied the allegation and the DPP declined to pursue a second trial on account of considerations over Ms Higgins’ psychological well being and dropped the cost.

Mr Drumgold’s questioning continues.