Brittany Higgins has responded after a senior detective involved in her rape investigation was suspended amid allegations of a cover-up in an unrelated case.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Trent Madders has been charged with perjury, perverting the course of justice and concealing evidence in an unrelated case involving a former AFP officer, news.com.au reported.
Mr Madders, who has so far denied any wrongdoing, was one of the detectives who originally investigated Ms Higgins’s allegation that she was raped by her colleague Bruce Lehrmann on a minister’s couch in 2019 after a night out in Canberra.
In response to the news of Madders’ suspension, Higgins shared three upside-down emojis on Instagram, often used to express disbelief, irritation or frustrated resignation.
There is no evidence that Mr Madders committed any misconduct in relation to Ms Higgins’ case.
The charges against him are said to be related to an investigation into twin brothers who were convicted in 2019 of spying on three female tenants using hidden cameras in their bedrooms.
Australian federal police officer Joshua Rod Tiffen and his brother Kenan Lee Tiffen, an electrician, were found guilty in April 2022 of three charges of capturing visual data, an offensive invasion of privacy.
Brittany Higgins (pictured) has responded after a senior detective involved in her rape investigation was suspended amid allegations of a cover-up in an unrelated case
Detective Leading Senior Constable Trent Madders has been charged with perjury, perverting the course of justice and concealing evidence in an unrelated matter in a case involving a former AFP officer. Ms Higgins’ reaction is pictured above
However, they have pleaded their innocence and an appeal can be filed against them.
Mr Madders, who worked on the investigation, is accused of making a false affidavit in a court case “with the intent to convict or acquit another of a criminal offence” between August 5 and 6, 2020, it reported Riot Act.
He is also accused of concealing evidence “with the intent to influence the outcome of a legal case” sometime between June 12, 2019, and August 6, 2020.
His case was listed in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, where Mr Madders’ lawyer requested the case be adjourned for three weeks.
No request has been filed and the case will return to court on August 1.
He has reportedly previously denied any involvement in a cover-up.
An AFP spokesman said “an AFP employee has been charged with perjury and criminal offences related to the administration of justice.”
Detective Leading Senior Constable Trent Madders (pictured) was one of the detectives who originally investigated Ms Higgins’ allegation that she had been raped by colleague Bruce Lehrmann
“The employee, who was charged by AFP Professional Standards, has been suspended,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Madders last year gave evidence about his involvement in the rape investigation of Ms Higgins to a commission of inquiry into the Australian Capital Territory’s criminal justice system.
The report of the Commission of Inquiry, drawn up by Walter Sofronoff KC, praised the actions of the police, including Mr Madders.
It was concluded that the officers had ‘carried out their duties in good faith, with great determination despite obstacles, and had built a solid case’.
An interview Madders conducted with Higgins two years after the alleged attack was played to the jury at her first trial. The trial was eventually abandoned due to juror misconduct.
Mrs Higgins was clearly panicked and scolded herself when she told police she would conduct the interviews in person or by telephone.
“In hindsight, I made it a lot harder for myself to verify. It was so stupid,” she told police as she began to cry.
“It’s not stupid, Brittany,” Detective Madders told her.