Brittany Higgins rape trial could be delayed after Lisa Wilkinson’s Logies speech

Bruce Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019.

Lawyers for the man accused of raping Brittany Higgins have applied for his trial to be halted after Lisa Wilkinson’s speech at the Logies.

Bruce Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Ms Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019.

He is due to stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court on Monday, June 27.

Ms Wilkinson won the Logie for Most Outstanding News Coverage or Public Affairs Report for her work on the Brittany Higgins case.

She gave a speech about the case after receiving the award on Sunday night.

Lehrmann’s legal team have now launched a stay application, which if successful would delay the trial.

Brittany Higgins and Lisa Wilkinson attend the Marie Claire International Women's Day breakfast. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Bruce Lehrmann denies sexually assaulting Ms Higgins

Lehrmann’s barrister Steve Whybrow claimed more than 800,000 searches were made in relation to Ms Wilkinson’s speech on Monday alone.

He also noted reactions on Twitter and Instagram, as well as a radio program and other news outlets, as evidence of intense attention in the lead-up to the start of the trial.

He said his client did not want to delay proceedings.

“He [Lehrmann] wants to get it on, but he wants a fair trial,” Mr Whybrow said in court according to the report.

The application to delay the trial will be heard by ACT Chief Justice Lucy McCallum on Tuesday.

Lehrmann made an appliation to have the case delayed in April, but the court ordered the trial to go ahead as scheduled.

However, the trial was delayed until June after it emerged he no longer had a barrister. Mr Whybrow is now set to represent him.

Judge’s stern warning ahead of trial

Earlier this year, the ACT’s top judge had given a “blunt” warning the trial could be postponed or not proceed at all.

The trial is scheduled to begin this month. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

At a mention in March, Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said she wanted to send a strong message to “any person who has any interest” in the case, after questioning Mr Lehrmann’s lawyer about whether there would be an application to temporarily or permanently stay the proceedings.

“A man has been accused of a very serious offence, it is an offence that can only be tried with a jury,” she said in the ACT Supreme Court.

“The laws about contempt are well known in this country.

“Statements made before a criminal trial that might interfere with the administration of justice and, in particular, the ability of an accused man to have a fair trial risk falling in the classification of contempt.”

She said she “strongly” urged people to be careful.

“If I could put it in blunter terms, the more people keep talking about this case the greater the risk the prosecution will be stayed,” she said.

There is now a risk that the case could be delayed after Ms Wilkinson’s speech. Picture: Josh Woning

“I think I’ve made the position of the court clear.”

Her warning came after former Prime Minister Scott Morrison gave a historic apology in parliament to victims of sexual harassment and assault in the building, naming Ms Higgins.

Afterwards, Mr Lehrmann’s high-profile barrister John Korn, who has since left the man’s legal team, labelled Mr Morrison’s actions a “disgrace” which “completely and utterly disregarded the presumption of innocence”.

“For my part I was hoping what happened a few weeks ago would die down,” he said.

He said he had read days earlier there was going to be another campaign involving Ms Higgins going public and “speaking about the topic”.

“I would very much hope that could be prevented,” he said.