Highlights
- Police shall be investigated for his or her dealing with of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation towards Bruce Lehrmann.
- ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold raised considerations about “political and police conduct” within the case.
- Mr Lerhmann is just not going through costs, and has at all times denied the allegations.
This text accommodates references to sexual assault.
The Commonwealth legislation enforcement integrity company will examine how police dealt with
The ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold raised considerations about “political and police conduct” within the case of former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann, who Ms Higgins alleged raped her in Parliament Home in 2019.
The prison trial of Mr Lehrmann ended final month when the jury was dismissed. Mr Lehrmann pleaded not responsible, and has at all times denied the allegations.
ACT Lawyer-Normal Shane Rattenbury confirmed the matter had been referred to the Australian Fee for Legislation Enforcement Integrity for additional investigation.
“I’m conscious the matter has been referred to the Australian Fee for Legislation Enforcement Integrity. As such, it isn’t acceptable to remark additional at the moment,” he mentioned in an announcement.
Police union requires judicial inquiry into Lehrmann trial
The police union on Thursday responded to the allegations raised by Mr Drumgold.
In an announcement, Australian Federal Police Affiliation president Alex Caruana mentioned the union “wholeheartedly” supported a judicial inquiry into Mr Lehrmann’s trial.
He mentioned the allegations made by Mr Drumgold haven’t been examined and are the topic of an inside investigation.
He condemned the criticisms of police actions as “determined makes an attempt to smear AFP and ACT Policing”.
Mr Caruana mentioned the union supposed to make a proper grievance to the Australian Data Fee and the ACT Ombudsman concerning the attainable FOI breach and alleged “misconduct by the Director of Public Prosecutions”.
Allegations outlined in letter to ACT police chief
In a doc revealed beneath freedom of data legal guidelines, Mr Drumgold wrote a letter detailing considerations that police had engaged in a marketing campaign to stress him to not prosecute Mr Lehrmann over Ms Higgins’ allegation.
On Thursday, The Guardian reported Mr Drumgold despatched the letter to the ACT’s police chief, Neil Gaughan, on 1 November.
“I’m of the view that on the conclusion of the trial, there needs to be a public enquiry into each political and police conduct on this matter,” Mr Drumgold wrote.
However Mr Caruana mentioned the union “firmly believes” the ACT DPP compromised Mr Lehrmann’s trial.
He mentioned any inquiry should additionally assess the conduct of Mr Drumgold, his workplace, the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner and Mr Rattenbury.
He additionally questioned whether or not the knowledge obtained by The Guardian had been intentionally leaked by Mr Drumgold’s workplace.
“The FOI from the ACT DPP to The Guardian, to our data, has no redactions, and it contains private particulars of officers concerned within the investigation,” he mentioned.
“ACT Policing was not consulted on the discharge of data and its members’ particulars.”
ACT Policing – the unit of the AFP accountable for offering policing companies to the Australian Capital Territory – mentioned it was conscious the Workplace of the Director of Public Prosecutions had launched the letter and famous the DPP had requested a public inquiry into the matter.
“As such, it could be inappropriate to offer any additional remark in relation to any points surrounding this matter together with commentary concerning the letter from the ACT DPP,” a spokesman mentioned on Thursday.
Should you or somebody you already know is impacted by sexual assault, name 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or go to . In an emergency, name 000.