The previous political staffer was because of be taught on Thursday whether or not his defamation case over reviews of his alleged rape of Brittany Higgins had succeeded.
However, along with his draft judgment printed and able to be learn out, Justice Michael Lee on Tuesday agreed contemporary proof regarding leaked textual content messages needs to be admitted.
“That is clearly contemporary proof,” he stated within the Federal Court docket on Tuesday night.
An additional listening to might be heard on Thursday, with judgment delayed at the very least every week.
Ten stated the doubtless case-changing proof got here from a tv producer who had labored to safe an unique interview with Lehrmann for community rival Seven.
It included an allegation that Lehrmann, 28, offered the producer greater than 2300 pages of “deeply private exchanges” between Higgins and her former boyfriend, in breach of the longstanding rule in authorized follow referred to as the Harman enterprise.
Lehrmann acquired the fabric, going again years, whereas defending himself in a prison trial.
Lawyer Steven Whybrow and former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehmann arriving on the Federal Court docket of Australia in Sydney on 22 December, 2023. Supply: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Justice Lee stated the proof could change the willpower of the case and agreed with Ten that it went as to whether Lehrman had abused the court docket course of.
Ten’s barrister Matthew Collins accused Lehrmann of giving his barristers directions “that should have been mistaken”.
His barristers had beforehand advised Ten and the court docket the enterprise regarding Higgins’ messages had not been breached.
“This isn’t a trivial matter,” Collins stated.
“If the (producer) proof is accepted, our submission might be it is a very critical matter.”
Lehrmann, a former political staffer, is suing Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over a February 2021 report on The Venture the place Higgins was interviewed about her alleged raped in a Parliament Home workplace in March 2019.
He’s searching for intensive damages, saying these reviews have destroyed his repute.
Lehrmann denies raping Higgins.
His barrister on Tuesday urged Justice Lee to dismiss the last-minute utility, saying each his consumer and Higgins had advised many lies on oath.
“It is actually lipstick on a pig,” barrister Matthew Richardson stated.
“These things is trivial, it is simply not related and to offer depart to reopen on that kind of materials could be inappropriate.”