What's happened
Former government adviser Bruce Lehrmann lost his defamation case after a judge ruled he raped his colleague Brittany Higgins in a Parliament House office. Justice Lee found Lehrmann's state of mind indicated he was indifferent to Higgins' consent, leading to the sexual assault.
Why it matters
The ruling in favor of Brittany Higgins marks a significant moment in the ongoing conversation around sexual assault and the treatment of victims. It highlights the importance of believing survivors and seeking justice, potentially impacting future cases and legal proceedings involving sexual assault allegations.
What the papers say
The Guardian's Richard Ackland highlighted the meticulous evidence presented in court that led to Justice Lee's ruling. The Independent emphasized Justice Lee's use of the 'balance of probabilities' standard in civil trials to find Lehrmann guilty. Al Jazeera focused on the judge's criticism of Network 10 for airing the allegations against Lehrmann.
How we got here
The case stemmed from an interview with Brittany Higgins in 2021, where she accused Lehrmann of raping her in Parliament House. Despite Lehrmann's denial of the allegations, Justice Lee's ruling was based on the evidence presented, including CCTV footage and witness testimonies.
Common question
More on these topics
-
Australia, officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.
-
Lisa Wilkinson AM is an Australian television presenter and journalist.
Wilkinson is currently host of Network 10 news-current affairs and talk show The Project.