Bruce Lehrmann’s text messages on night Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations became public
Bruce Lehrmann texted a friend saying “need bags” on the night Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations became public, messages tendered to court reveal.
Bruce Lehrmann texted a friend saying “need bags” and asked “got any gear” on the night Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations became public, messages tendered to court have revealed.
WhatsApp texts exchanged between Mr Lehrmann and his close confidants on February 15, 2021, reveal he wanted to “get lit” after he drank scotch with his lawyer in his office.
Mr Lehrmann is suing Channel 10 and Lisa Wilkinson, as well as News Corp’s News Life Media and Samantha Maiden, over their TV and online stories which first reported Ms Higgins’ allegations.
The former Liberal staffer gave evidence in court for the first time on Thursday, saying he was “outraged” when the allegation – which he strenuously denies and has never been proven in court – was made public.
Following his cross-examination, court documents were made public which detailed every text sent and received on the day the news.com.au story broke in the morning and The Project aired at night – both featuring interviews with Ms Higgins.
The message log showed Mr Lehrmann spent the afternoon and early evening in his lawyer Warwick Korn’s office, drinking scotch and watching The Project as it aired the allegations, before texting his friend, John Macgowan at 10:11pm to say: “need bags... Let’s get it done... No one has work tomorrow”.
A minute later, he wrote to Mr Macgowan that his friend was “paying”, adding: “lol so let’s get lit”.
The message log shows about 10:30pm, Mr Lehrmann texted a work friend asking if she had “any gear” but she responded that she was at home and they needed to “keep it clean”.
Mr Lehrmann: “You got any gear? Harry and John here.”
Friend: “No I am at home. And you guys need to keep it clean. Enough!!!”
At about 10:30pm, Mr Lehrmann texted Mr Macgowan to say: “Get here... it’s good”.
Mr Macgowan wrote: “30... lots of kids around” to which Mr Lehrmann responded “Nah ditch them or bring them... get here... it’s good”.
Ten minutes later, Mr Lehrmann texted: “How many bags?”
Around the same time, the work friend he had been texting simultaneously wrote: “Tomorrow won’t be good – rein the sh*t in … clear your name mate that’s all that matters. You only have your name and one name”.
At 10:45pm, she wrote: “You need to take this seriously mate. Go home and don’t leave your apartment” to which Mr Lehrmann responded: “yeah I have”.
The message log from earlier in the day showed Mr Lehrmann received his first message at 10:29am.
Harry Hughes, who he’d described in court as a close friend, sent Mr Lehrmann a link to the news.com.au article titled “Parliament House Rocked By Brittany Higgins’ Alleged Rape” and asked “know this chick?”
Mr Lehrmann responded that he “worked with her briefly” and “(she) was at team drinks etc”.
At 11:17am, Mr Hughes texted Mr Lehrmann to say it was a “pretty cooked allegation” before asking if he knew “who the guy was,” to which Mr Lehrmann wrote: “Not the faintest idea. I haven’t been approached by anyone”.
About half an hour later, Mr Macgowan texted Mr Lehrmann to ask if he had “any gossip on who the Canberra rape guy is’”. He continued: “The yarn says ‘rising star’ so that rules out our mates but who else?”.
Mr Lehrmann replied he had “no idea in the slightest” and he hadn’t been approached.
Later in the conversation, Mr Lehrmann texted Mr Macgowan to say he assumes “it will fizzle,” to which Macgowan said:
“She (Ms Higgins) is on the Project tonight which isn’t exactly prime time stuff”.
Mr Lehrmann asked: “They wouldn’t name would they … pretty slanderous stuff”.
Mr McGowan replied: “well it’s defamatory”.
Neither the news.com.au article nor The Project named Mr Lehrmann, but he has argued in his defamation statement of claim that their stories included details that could have identified him to certain people.
According to the message log tendered to court, by 3pm, Mr Lehrmann had secured the lawyer Warwick Korn who Mr Hughes had recommended.
After texting Mr Hughes to say Mr Korn had “cleared his arvo” for him, he texted his then-girlfriend at 4:56pm that he was “having a scotch now” and that “he (Mr Korn) is very good … doesn’t want any money”.
He then texted his girlfriend: “If I am up tonight then he says I’m up for millions in defamation … Warwick (Korn) doesn’t think I’ll be named … If I am then Channel 10 as well as the government/department of finance are up for a lot of money … I’m a pawn Rick (Korn) says as part of a political hatchet job”.
When his girlfriend asked about the CCTV, Mr Lehrmann said he got his stuff and “she (Brittany Higgins) stayed” and he left – to which she responded: “ok good”.
At 9pm, Mr Lehrmann texted his girlfriend to say he was “having a scotch” before the message referencing bags was sent to Mr Macgowan.
The message log was publicly released as part of Federal Court proceedings which will determine whether Mr Lehrmann can take the two media outlets and its two journalists to trial.
Mr Lehrmann took two years to sue them – twice the normal legal time limit to start such proceedings – and Justice Michael Lee has to rule on whether to extend that deadline.
His decision, likely to come in the coming weeks, will pave the way for whether the case goes to trial or topples.
Mr Lehrmann’s legal team is relying on three reasons for his delay in suing: receiving certain legal advice, the fact he was also facing criminal proceedings and his mental health.
If the case goes to trial, the respondents rely on defences of truth and qualified privilege.
The case is set to return to court on March 23 when Mr Lehrmann’s lawyer, Mr Korn, is expected to give evidence.
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