Jury in Lehrmann rape trial tell court they are unable to reach verdict

The jury in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann, accused of raping Brittany Higgins, has told the court they are unable to agree on a verdict and been sent home - for now.

The jury in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann, who is accused of raping former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, has told the court they cannot reach a verdict. Picture: NCA Newswire

The jury in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann, the Liberal staffer accused of raping Brittany Higgins, cannot agree on a verdict and are now facing a fifth day of deliberations.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum has told the jury to continue working toward a unanimous verdict after four days of deliberations.

Mr Lehrmann, 27, pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse with Ms Higgins, without her consent and being reckless to her consent, in March 2019.

The jury were sent out last Wednesday afternoon to begin deliberating at the conclusion of the evidence.

They eight women and four men remained largely silent, aside from a note on Monday morning indicating they had yet to reach a verdict beyond a reasonable doubt.

The jury asked for more time to continue working.

The jury in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann have said they are unable to come to a verdict. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Bruce Lehrmann is accused of the sexual assault of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Then another note emerged on Tuesday afternoon, after four full days of deliberating, saying they are “unable to agree”.

Justice McCallum called the jury into the ACT Supreme Court just after 3pm on Tuesday and issued a direction they continue to keep working.

Justice McCallum said juries can often agree, if given more time, but if they cannot then they must stay true to their beliefs.

“All 12 of you must, in the end, agree on that verdict,” she told the jurors.

“It may be the particular paths which lead you to that unanimous decision may not be the same.

“It does not matter that you do not agree as to why that particular verdict should be given.”

She asked them to retire, again, to attempt to reach a verdict once more.

Jury deliberations in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann will enter their fifth day on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Minutes later the jury asked for Justice McCallum to send them home so they could return with fresh minds on Wednesday morning.

The judge obliged, urging them to hit the gym or walk the dog to escape the “arduous task” before them.

Mr Lehrmann has denied raping Ms Higgins on the couch of Senator Linda Reynolds, in Parliament House, after a drunken night out.

He had denied having sex with Ms Higgins at all.

Originally published as Jury in Lehrmann rape trial tell court they are unable to reach verdict