Brittany Higgins ‘prioritised media exposure’, bombshell report into Lehrmann prosecution reveals

Bruce Lehrmann has hit out at the ACT government for failing to take more decisive action in the wake of the Sofronoff Report, amid revelations Shane Drumgold could lose his ability to work as a Canberra barrister.

Bruce Lehrmann has hit out at the ACT government for failing to take more decisive action in the wake of the Sofronoff Report, amid revelations Shane Drumgold could lose his ability to work as a Canberra barrister.

After the report made findings of uncovered serious misconduct in the handling of sexual assault accusations against him, Mr Lehrmann told The Daily Telegraph “the response from the ACT government has been woefully inadequate.”

“Pointing in all directions to distract us from the core issue, the serious findings of malfeasance by the chief minister’s own DPP,” Mr Lehrmann said.

“What a mess of a place the ACT is at the moment.”

Mr Lehrmann’s trial on one count of sexual assault was ended last year after juror misconduct. The charge was subsequently dropped. Mr Lehrmann has always vigorously denied the allegations against him.

Bruce Lehrmann has always vigorously denied the allegations against him. Picture: Justin Lloyd

On Monday, ACT chief minister Andrew Barr attacked the author of the report, respected jurist Walter Sofronoff, accusing him of breaching “good faith” obligations and committing a “lapse of judgment” in reportedly leaking contents of the document, which painted an extraordinary picture of the chief prosecutor’s behaviour in the case.

Mr Lehrmann’s comments come among a flurry of new developments in the fallout from the aborted trial, which on Tuesday saw the ACT Bar Association announce that Mr Drumgold would lose his practising certificate upon his official departure as chief prosecutor on September 1.

Resigned after damning report … former ACT DPP Shane Drumgold.

“The Bar Council notes with grave concern the findings of misconduct in the Report regarding the person with primary carriage of the prosecution of Mr Lehrmann, Mr Shane Drumgold SC, the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions,” association president Marcus Hassall said.

“Those findings are patently serious and will receive careful consideration by the ACT Bar Council in the context of its role as the professional regulator of the ACT Bar.”

It can also be revealed that police investigating Brittany Higgins’ claims of sexual assault against Bruce Lehrmann thought she was “prioritising media exposure” and made a mistake in sharing CCTV footage from Parliament House with her, it can be revealed.

The details are contained within the bombshell report by Water Sofronff into the conduct of ACT chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold and the trial of Mr Lehrmann, which was formally released Monday after leaks made their way into the press last week.

Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins being signed in at Parliament House in Canberra. Pictures: Seven Picture

According to the report, footage from Parliament House on the night in question was shared with Ms Higgins because Detective Superintendent Moller said she (Higgins) had “continually asked to be shown that video”.“The decision to accede to her demand was apparently made ‘to support her’.”

“The CCTV footage depicted Ms Higgins and Mr Lehrmann entering Parliament House close in time to the alleged incident.

“Ms Higgins’ recollection about what happened was the only direct evidence of the facts at the heart of the allegation.”

Mr Sofronoff added that Ms Higgins’ media exposure had the potential to affect the case, though that did not mean she was “untruthful”.

Meanwhile it can also be revealed that ACT Police have issued a formal, “unreserved apology” to Ms Higgins for a “significant error” after it was revealed that law enforcement sent notes from her psychological counselling sessions to Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister.

The revelation of the improper sharing of notes was made in a submission by barrister Kate Richardson SC in the police response to the Sofronoff inquiry into the ACT’s handling of sex assault charges against Mr Lehrmann.