10 looks at 7News Spotlight footage in defamation trial

Lawyers for Network 10 are examining footage from the 7News Spotlight interview with Bruce Lehrmann ahead of a defamation trial.

Lehrmann is currently suing Network 10, Lisa Wilkinson in the federal court, alleging they defamed him by wrongly suggesting he raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.

Guardian Australia reports today the federal court heard that lawyers for 10 have subpoenaed the raw footage of Spotlight’s interview with Lehrmann.

10 and Wilkinson’s lawyers said it may have amounted to contempt of court in the ACT.

The Age also reports 10 sought access to Parliament House CCTV footage from different camera angles from the department of parliamentary services, but that footage has been wiped.

Lehrmann was not named in 10’s broadcast of The Project, but his lawyers maintain he was identified via other means.

Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual intercourse without consent. His trial was aborted in October last year due to juror misconduct. The charge was later dropped altogether amid concerns about Higgins’ mental health. Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence.

Lehrmann is also suing the ABC for defamation for broadcasting a National Press Club address last year by Grace Tame and Higgins.