Deliberate lies and a ‘vexing’ photograph: Justice Lee’s take on the key players of the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case

When Justice Michael Lee handed down his verdict in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, he spoke a lot about the credibility of the witnesses.

He listed a number of times Lehrmann made false statements, including about being reprimanded by his boss, Senator Linda Reynolds, about why he went to Parliament House with Higgins and about drinking whisky.

“All these falsehoods, together with his Walter Mitty-like imaginings in skiting to [Liberal staffer Lauren Gain] about the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, demonstrate that Mr Lehrmann had no compunction about departing from the truth if he thought it expedient.”

Lee said when it came to telling her story later Higgins “crafted a narrative accusing others of putting up roadblocks and forcing her two years earlier of having to choose between her career and seeking justice by making and pursuing a complaint”.

Lee said the fact Higgins’ phone was wiped and the bruise photograph survived was “odd” and “vexing”: “Its forensic importance is manifest and while she was under an obligation to tell the truth, it was put forward by her as corroborative material”.

Lee found it hard to reconcile Wilkinson’s acceptance of a Logie award and saying “this interview and this story is by far the most important work I have ever done” with her lack of professional scepticism or rigour in analysing the allegations.