Channel 10 lawyer Justin Quill has unleashed a brutal opinion on Bruce Lehrmann after a judge found the former political operative raped Brittany Higgins.
Lehrmann sued Network Ten and Wilkinson for defamation over a February 2021 report on The Project in which Ms Higgins alleged she was raped by her colleague Lehrmann in a Parliament House office in 2019.
Judge Michael Lee ruled on Tuesday that Lerhmann raped Ms Higgins because he was “determined” to have sex with his former colleague.
He ruled in favor of Ten when he handed down his sentence on Monday.
Outside court, Mr Quill afterwards described the verdict as a resounding victory for Channel 10 and a dismal failure for Lehrmann.
Channel 10 lawyer Justin Quill criticized Bruce Lehrmann after Judge Michael Lee handed down his sentence on Monday
Bruce Lehrmann leaves court after judge Michael Lee rules in favor of Channel Ten
“My advice to Mr. Lehrmann, given that he is a law student, would be to perhaps find another course of study at university,” he said.
Quill claimed that Lehrmann sued Channel 10 for two reasons: to make money and to reinvent history.
“He wanted people to believe his version of events, but he failed in both attempts,” he added.
“It’s an absolute disaster for Bruce Lehrmann.”
Mr Quill added that Channel 10 deserved the vindication the network received from the ruling.
‘A vindication for the faith and support of Brittany Higgins, who was extremely courageous to appear in court and, unlike most rape victims who come to court, has chosen not to have anonymity and give her testimony in the bright light of publicity and the spotlight,” he said. .
‘It is a justification for Ten to continue to pursue and defend these defamation proceedings and the costs and battles that come with them.’
The judge ruled that Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins (photo) in 2019
Lisa Wilkinson spoke to the media after the judge ruled in the defamation case
Lisa Wilkinson, who won a Logie award for her interview with Ms Higgins on The Project, also addressed the media outside the court after winning the defamation case.
“Today, the federal court found that I published a true story about a rape at the office of a federal politician in March 2019,” she said.
“I sincerely hope that the verdict will empower women across the country.
‘I am also so grateful to have been able to make use of our independent legal team.’
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