Detective investigating Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation complained he ‘didn’t like being threatened’ after call with her boyfriend
A detective who investigated Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation complained he “didn’t like being threatened” after a phone call with her partner David Sharaz.
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A detective who investigated Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation complained he “didn’t like being threatened” after a phone call with her partner David Sharaz.
In fresh witness statements released by the Board of inquiry into the conduct of police, prosecutors and the Victim of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates, the distress of the senior police officer has been laid bare.
The inquiry has previously heard evidence from Detective Superintendent Scott Moller that shortly after Mr Sharaz’s phone call to Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman, the instructions were delivered to charge Bruce Lehrmann.
He said Mr Sharaz threatened to go public with complaints over the speed of the rape investigation and sent emails to the detective investigating the case and the Victims of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates.
Detective Inspector Marcus Boorman, a senior investigator, has provided a witness statement to the inquiry but has not been called to give oral evidence.
But in a witness statement provided to the inquiry by Victims of Crime Commissioner Heidi Yates, she details a conversation with Det Insp Boorman on the 30th of July, 2021.
“I was copied into an email from Mr Sharaz to Mr. Boorman and Mr. Moller confirming Miss Higgins’ desire to have the process resolved as soon as possible,’’ Ms Yates said.
“I then received a missed call from Mr Boorman at 2:39pm and a text message from him at 2:41pm asking me to call him. I then called him.
“It was my recollection that Mr Boorman was upset and said to me, words to the effect of “I don’t like being threatened.”
“My recollection was and I said to Mr. Boorman, Ms Higgins is concerned about having the investigation wrapped up as soon as possible.”
The inquiry has previously heard evidence that Mr Sharaz on July 29, 2021, sent an email marked “Subject:News Story”.
In the correspondence, he notes that Ms Higgins had placed her “life on hold, and awaits a step forward from the police”.
“We have both remained silent, as per the direction of the police, and have asked them to keep us in the loop on any media commentary they plan to make,’’ he wrote.
“l was hoping we could once again seek guidance on whether we can expect an outcome, as indicated, by the end of the month?
“We will continue to abide by the no public commentary direction in place.”
The next day, he rang a senior detective, Marcus Boorman, threatening to go public over the failure to charge Bruce Lehrmann, an inquiry has heard.
“I trust you’re both well. Thank you for your time on the phone this morning Marcus,’’ Mr Sharaz said.
“Just confirming the desire of Brittany to have this process resolved sooner rather than later, and her expectation for a direction to be given as to what the next step is.
“She expects that direction by the end of the day as indicated by you both when you flew up to Brisbane. As always, happy to discuss over the phone.”
Shortly afterwards, Det Insp Boorman went on leave.
“At the time Mr Lehrmann was charged I was on extended personal leave,’’ he told the inquiry in a written statement.
Det Insp Boorman is the same man who Bruce Lehrmann’s defence barrister Steve Whybrow said had expressed the view that his client was innocent and threatened to quit in the event of a conviction.
“When I saw him, he appeared to me to be anxious and agitated and concerned that we not be seen speaking together in the direct line of sight of the ODPP [office of the director of public prosecutions],” Mr Whybrow said in a statement.
“DI Boorman indicated to me that he was quite distressed about this prosecution and considered that Mr Lehrmann was innocent.
“He made several other comments along these lines and I recall he said words to the effect ‘if the jury comes back with a guilty verdict, I’m resigning’.”
Whybrow said in his statement that he “had never before had a conversation with a police officer who had indicated that they were going to resign because they had been ordered to prosecute someone they considered was innocent”.
In his own written statement to the inquiry, Detective Inspector Boorman acknowledged he had met with Mr Whybrow while the jury in Mr Lehrmann’s trial was deliberating.
But does not mention a discussion with Mr Whybrow where he offered to resign or said Mr Lehrmann was innocent.
He has not been called to give oral evidence.
Originally published as Detective investigating Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation complained he ‘didn’t like being threatened’ after call with her boyfriend
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