Texts reveal Bruce Lehrmann sought ‘gear’ to ‘get lit’ on night of Brittany Higgins TV interview

The texts Bruce Lehrmann sent his friends as he watched Brittany Higgins’ TV interview, while drinking scotch with his lawyer, have been released.

Bruce Lehrmann. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Bruce Lehrmann texted a friend asking “got any gear” on the night Brittany Higgins appeared on television making her rape allegations, according to a trove of messages and documents released by the Federal Court.

The WhatsApp messages reveal Mr Lehrmann telling friends “need bags” and confiding he wanted to “get lit” as he watched the Lisa Wilkinson interview with Ms Higgins while drinking scotch with his lawyer, Warwick Korn.

The texts also reveal Mr Lehrmann telling his then girlfriend, Greta Sinclair, as the evening progresses, “I’ve been pretty upset” and “we need to keep a close circle, so I can’t speak very much but I trust you with my life”.

Brittany Higgins and Bruce Lehrmann. Picture: NCA Newswire

Ms Sinclair responds: “That’s OK. And no worries, can keep a close circle. It’s scary.”

Mr Lehrmann reassures her that if he is named on the program, Channel 10 and the government “are up for a lot of money”.

She responds: Yep! I love you and we will get through this.”

Mr Lehrmann told the Federal Court on Thursday he lied in some texts sent to Ms Sinclair that night, including telling her his lawyer believed there was no chance of criminal proceedings against him, claiming he did so because she was distraught and he was “putting on a brave face”.

Mr Lehrmann said he had lied in claiming Mr Korn thought he was “up for millions” from a potential defamation payout in order to placate Ms Sinclair.

However, his evidence was challenged by lawyers from the media outlets he is suing, who say the text messages accurately reflected the advice he was being given, and he was well aware he could sue for defamation at that point.

Lawyers for the Ten Network and News Corp are fighting to strike out the lawsuit because Mr Lehrmann failed to launch proceedings within the required 12-month time limit. They say the texts contradict one of the reasons he has given for the delay in bringing the action – that he was advised by his then lawyers against pursuing defamation proceedings.

The newly released messages show Mr Lehrmann texted a friend at 10.11pm saying “Need bags”, followed by “Let’s get it done. No one has work tomorrow”. At 10.33pm he asks: “You got any gear?”

The friend responds: “No, I am at home. And you guys need to keep it clean. Enough!! Lots of kids around.”

Lisa Wilkinson.

Samantha Maiden. Picture: Instagram

Mr Lehrmann responds: “Nah ditch them or bring them.” He also texts Ms Sinclair claiming “I’m a pawn, Rick (lawyer) says as part of a bigger political hatchet job”.

Ms Sinclair immediately responds: “What about the CCTV?”

Mr Lehrmann responds: “Well as I said I went in got my stuff and she stayed and I left to go back to Alex at my apartment which we both rented together.”

She replies: “OK good.”

The texts show friends asking Mr Lehrmann if he knows “who the guy was” who is the subject of the rape allegation. Mr Lehrmann responds to one friend: “Not the faintest idea. I haven’t been approached by anyone.”

To another he replies” No idea in the slightest.”

Mr Lehrmann, who has consistently denied raping Ms Higgins, launched defamation proceedings against Ten and News Life Media Pty Ltd – an arm of News Corp Australia, publisher of The Weekend Australian – in the Federal Court a month ago.

Ms Wilkinson, former co-host of The Project, and Samantha Maiden, political editor for news.com.au, are second respondents in the proceedings. Both media outlets, Ms Wilkinson and Ms Maiden will rely on defences of truth and qualified privilege.

Justice Michael Lee will rule at a later date on whether to extend Mr Lehrmann’s deadline for bringing the case.