From 2h agoKey events26m agoWhat we heard today2h agoJudge allows lipreading evidence to be admitted3h agoLipreader who interpreted what Lehrmann said in bar previously worked for media outlets and investigated extramarital affair, court hears4h agoBrittany Higgins’ $2.45m settlement made one day after mediation in ‘highly unusual’ move, Michaelia Cash says4h agoWhat we’ve heard so far8h agoWhat’s coming up todayFilters BETAKey events (6)Brittany Higgins (14)ACT (9)Bruce Lehrmann (9)Sarah Harman (7)Michael Lee (6)26m ago01.33 ESTWhat we heard today
After a morning of evidence from two defence witnesses, the afternoon was taken up with legal arguments over whether to admit evidence from a lipreader.
Just a reminder: Bruce Lehrmann is suing Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson in the federal court over an interview with Brittany Higgins on Ten’s The Project in which she alleged she was raped by a Liberal staffer in Parliament House. Network Ten and Wilkinson are defending the case.
Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual intercourse without consent, denying that any sexual activity had occurred, in the criminal trial which was aborted due to juror misconduct.
Bruce Lehrmann (right) at the federal court in Sydney where his defamation trial is taking place. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP
Here’s what happened this afternoon:
Justice Michael Lee heard legal arguments about the admissibility of evidence from two experts called by the defence, including a lipreading expert based in the UK. The expert watched the CCTV footage from the Dock bar on the night of the alleged assault and is said to be able to interpret what Lehrmann, Higgins and others were saying.
Lehrmann’s legal team argued that the report produced by the lipreading expert is not “wholly or substantially based on specialised knowledge”.
Ultimately Lee ruled the lip reading evidence will be admitted. Lee said he did not believe he will be “misled or confused” by the evidence and reminded the court that the witness will be cross-examined on his report.
To read about what we heard this morning, click here.
The trial will continue on Monday morning.
Updated at 01.39 EST2h ago00.23 ESTJudge allows lipreading evidence to be admitted
After more than two hours of legal argument and deliberation Justice Michael Lee has ruled that the lipreading evidence will be admitted.
Lee said Bruce Lehrmann has already “rejected propositions” put to him in cross-examination based on the opinions of the lipreader.
Lehrmann was earlier in the trial cross-examined about what he said at the Dock bar while CCTV showed him socialising with Brittany Higgins and others.
Network Ten’s barrister, Matt Collins KC, said that at one point at the Dock bar Lehrmann moved three drinks closer to Higgins on the table and said they were “all hers, all hers”.
“You moved them to the edge of the table so that they were close to Ms Higgins,” Collins said.
Lehrmann replied: “No, I…
2023-12-08 01:39:00
Post from www.theguardian.com
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