Resurfaced clip comes back to haunt Bruce Lehrmann
A ‘cringe-worthy’ clip of rapist Bruce Lehrmann singing to the camera has come back to haunt him.
A resurfaced clip of rapist Bruce Lehrmann singing to the camera has come back to haunt him.
Many have pointed to Lehrmann’s “cocky attitude” in the video, in which he sings The Clash’s 1979 hit “I Fought The Law” with a drink in his hand.
News.com.au understands it was filmed in October 2023 on the NRL Grand Final weekend when Mr Lehrmann stayed with friends at a holiday rental on NSW’s Central Coast.
The song features the lyrics “I needed money ‘cause I had none; I fought the law and the law won”.
The footage shows Lehrmann sitting on a stool in a kitchen, belting out his own version of the tune while someone records his performance.
“I fought the law and... Bruce won!” he sang, as he tapped his feet and pointed towards the camera.
The clip was first published by The Australian newspaper in November before Lehrmann’s Federal Court case was heard.
Lehrmann lost his defamation action against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson on Monday.
The 28-year-old attempted to sue the network after Wilkinson’s interview on The Project with Brittany Higgins aired.
In the segment, the former Liberal staffer accused her colleague of raping her in Parliament House in March 2019.
He was not named during the February 2021 interview but claimed he could be identified.
Lehrmann was later charged with raping Ms Higgins, which he has always denied, and his trial was abandoned due to juror misconduct.
Justice Michael Lee on Monday found that Lehrmann had raped Ms Higgins on the civil court standard; the balance of probabilities.
“After escaping the lion’s den, Bruce Lehrmann made the mistake to come back for his hat,” he said.
It is not known what Mr Lehrmann plans to do next: he is homeless and jobless with rumoured mounting debts and a damaged reputation.
He is also facing court in June on rape charges in Toowoomba in Queensland. His lawyers have indicated he intends to plead not guilty.
Finding that Mr Lehrmann did rape Ms Higgins, Justice Lee explained he was making this finding by the civil standards of proof, not criminal where the burden of proof is higher.
This means that he believes Mr Lehrmann, on the basis of probability, raped Ms Higgins, but not beyond all reasonable doubt, as is the case in most criminal proceedings.
After Justice Lee delivered his decision, a shell-shocked Mr Lehrmann marched through the media pack outside court without making any comment.
As he made his way from Federal Court, journalists shouted questions but he remained silent.
“Do you stand by your version of events?” one reporter asked.
“What do you say to the judge? Do you accept these findings?” another asked.
Mr Lehrmann marched silently through the crowd towards his lawyer’s chambers.
Earlier, Mr Lehrmann made comprehensive notes in the courtroom.
His lawyers did not make any statements and have not yet been asked if they will consider an appeal.
Justice Lee said that Mr Lehrmann was not eligible for any damages.
A photograph of him appearing to snort a white substance of his dining table back in March was said to be a “joke” by Lehrmann.
The snap, taken at his then home, showed him holding a friend’s dog, who was also named Bruce, in one hand, and a rolled up $5 note in the other.
The two thick lines of powder appeared ready ingest, with one laid out for Lehrmann and another for the dog. A friend also jokingly held a $5 note in front of the pup’s nose.
— with Samanatha Maiden