Bruce Lehrmann: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox person |
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| name = <!-- defaults to article title when left blank --> |
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| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1995}} |
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| birth_place = [[Texas]] |
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| nationality = Australian |
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| alma_mater = [[Australian National University]] |
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| occupation = Lobbyist, political staffer. |
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| known_for = Rape at [[Parliament House, Canberra|Parliament House]] |
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}} |
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Bruce Lehrmann is a former political staffer who raped a colleague at [[Parliament House, Canberra]]. |
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In describing the subsequent legal proceedings and media reporting, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee said in his judgmeent "the underlying controversy has become a cause célèbre. Indeed, given its unexpected detours and the collateral damage it has occasioned, it might be more fitting to describe it as an omnishambles." |
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==Early Life== |
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He grew up in [[Toowoomba]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Bruce Lehrmann named as man accused of rape in Toowoomba |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-26/bruce-lehrmann-toowoomba-court-rape-charges/102962680 |work=ABC News |date=26 October 2023 |language=en-AU}}</ref> He moved to Canberra to study at [[Australian National University|ANU]] and begin his political career. |
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==Career== |
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Lehrmann commenced work with the office of the [[Attorney-General of Australia]] and worked for various ministries until he joined [[Linda Reynolds]]'s office in 2018. |
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He has worked as a political staffer for the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]], and as a lobbyist for [[British American Tobacco]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Knaus |first1=Christopher |title=Bruce Lehrmann told employer ‘false allegations’ had not hurt his ability to lobby effectively, documents show |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/24/bruce-lehrmann-told-employer-false-allegations-had-not-hurt-his-ability-to-lobby-effectively-documents-show |work=The Guardian |date=24 March 2023}}</ref> |
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==Legal issues== |
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Brittany Higgins reported the rape to the [[Australian Federal Police]] in 2019. These allegations were made public in February 2021 without naming Lehrmann. He was charged in August 2021 with one count of rape, his identity was then made public. |
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The criminal trial commenced on the 19th of October 2022, but was abandoned on the 26th of October due to prejudicial material being found in the jury room. <ref>{{cite news |title=Routine tidying unearths juror research that torpedoes Bruce Lehrmann rape trial |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-27/jury-discharged-in-trial-of-bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins/101583486 |work=ABC News |date=26 October 2022 |language=en-AU}}</ref> |
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The ACT prosecutor [[Shane Drumgold]] announced he would not seek a retrial due to concerns about Higgins' mental health. |
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Drumgold's conduct was subject to an inquiry led by [[Walter Sofronoff]]. Sofronoff's conduct has been referred to the ACT Integrity Commission for alleged improper disclosures and contact with [[News Corp Australia|News Corp]] journalist [[Janet Albrechtsen]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Conduct of head of inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann's prosecution referred to ACT Integrity Commission |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-05/act-walter-sofronoff-refer-integrity-commission-lehrmann-inquiry/103674564 |work=ABC News |date=5 April 2024 |language=en-AU}}</ref> |
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Lehrmann made his first public comments in June 2023 during an exclusive interview with [[Seven Network|Channel Seven]]. |
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A [[Walkley Awards|Walkley Award]] was revoked when it was later revealed that the network had paid for one year's rent as well as other expenses for Lehrmann, and did not accurately disclose this.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jaspan |first1=Calum |title=Seven’s Lehrmann scoop disqualified from Walkley Awards |url=https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/seven-s-lehrmann-scoop-disqualified-from-walkley-awards-20231207-p5epvk.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=7 December 2023 |language=en}}</ref> |
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A defamation case taken by Lehrmann against [[Network 10]] found [[Burden_of_proof_(law)#Civil_standard|on the balance of probabilities]] he had raped Ms. Higgins.<ref>{{cite AustLII|litigants=Lehrmann v Network Ten Pty Limited|link=|FCA|369|2024|pinpoint=|parallelcite=|date=|courtname=auto|juris=|ref=}}</ref> |
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He is due to speak at a Restoring the Presumption of Innocence conference organised by [[Bettina Arndt]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=McClymont |first1=Kate |title=Want to hear from Bruce Lehrmann about the justice system? That will be $100 a ticket, please |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/want-to-hear-from-bruce-lehrmann-about-the-justice-system-that-will-be-100-a-ticket-please-20240407-p5fhz4.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |date=7 April 2024}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Australian rapists]] |
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==References== |
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