Bruce’s highway hell: Lehrmann claims psychological injury from Hobart airport media chase

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann suffered psychological injury when he was pursued by mainland media along the Tasman Hwy towards Hobart Airport earlier this year, a court had heard.

Bruce Lehrmann and solicitor Zali Burrows in Hobart earlier this year. Picture: Elise Kaine

Former Liberal political staffer Bruce Lehrmann suffered significant distress and psychological injury when he was pursued by mainland media along the Tasman Highway towards Hobart Airport earlier this year, a Tasmanian magistrate has been told.

Mr Lehrmann was not in court on Tuesday as his lawyer, Zali Burrows, sought an interim restraining order against Daily Mail Australia senior reporter Karleigh Smith for conduct Ms Burrows alleged exceeded the scope of journalistic endeavour, and which had placed her client in danger.

Speaking to the contents of an affidavit signed by the applicant, Ms Burrows said that in attempting to evade the tailing vehicle of Ms Smith and her photographer, Mr Lehrmann made a sudden turn off the highway and down a dirt road.

Ms Burrows said the two vehicles had later passed each on the side road, creating a dangerous situation which could have resulted in a collision.

The court heard Mr Lehrmann’s interim restraint application against Ms Smith sought to cover not only himself, but an adult female Mr Lehrmann was staying with in Tasmania – and who had also been the subject of a Daily Mail story published on 1 July – and the woman’s two children.

“What we say is that her conduct is not consistent with journalistic standards, and [the application] therefore applies to her as an individual,” Mr Burrows told Magistrate Jackie Hartnett.

“My client will be providing evidence of personal injury to his mental condition.”

However Ms Smith’s Hobart barrister Nic Edmondson told Magistrate Hartnett that he opposed the restraint order application, saying his client’s first and only Tasmanian visit had been to write the story on Mr Lehrmann, and that she had not returned since.

Mr Edmondson said that even an interim restraint order risked unfairly impacting Ms Smith’s freedom of speech, and could effectively prevent her from writing future stories about Mr Lehrmann. “She is entitled to engage in the type of conduct that she did, in following Mr Lehrmann and in photographing Mr Lehrmann,” Mr Edmondson said.

After hearing from both sides, Magistrate Hartnett told the court she had rejected Mr Lehrmann’s preliminary application.

“I am not satisfied on the material before me that an interim order is appropriate,” Her Honour said, before setting a date for a substantive hearing into the matter.

Magistrate Hartnett adjourned the case until November 13 for a full hearing.

Mr Lehrmann has spent time living in Tasmania since losing a defamation trial against Network Ten, and television journalist Lisa Wilkinson, last year.

Last month, Mr Lehrmann appeared by phone in the Hobart Magistrates Court to plead not guilty to one count of motor vehicle stealing, relating to the alleged theft of a Toyota Prado from a Mountain River property in November.

He is due to appear again in court by phone on that matter on September 19.

Mr Lehrmann has appealed the outcome of his Federal Court defamation case.

Originally published as Bruce’s highway hell: Lehrmann claims psychological injury from Hobart airport media chase