Bruce Lehrmann and two mates have been spotted locked in a tense standoff with photographers near a pizza joint in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs.
On Easter Monday – the day after after Network Ten filed an urgent application to reopen his multimillion-dollar defamation case – Mr Lehrmann bailed himself up himself inside his $2000-a-week Balgowlah rental.
He spent the day in solitude with no guests and the curtains drawn, leaving only after about 7pm to meet up with two mates and a pet dog outside The Village Inn, in Paddington, where photographers were waiting.
One friend, yachtsman Rob Porter, was visibly frustrated by the media presence and suggested Mr Lehrmann’s privacy had been invaded.
Mr Porter stood between the cameras and Mr Lehrmann, who laughed nervously, as the yachtsman started taking photos of the photographers with his phone.
The group then got in a car and drove about 500 metres up the road to Arthur’s Pizza.
Mr Porter and another man got out of the car but Mr Lehrmann stayed inside the vehicle.
Bruce Lehrmann is pictured standing behind his friend Rob Porter on Easter Monday
Rob Porter, who is a Sydney yachtsman, jumped to Bruce Lehrmann’s defence on Monday in Paddington
Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) spent the day at home on Monday, before he stepped out after 7pm
Mr Lehrmann sued Network Ten and television host Lisa Wilkinson for defamation over an interview with Brittany Higgins on The Project in 2021.
The case was heard in December last year and Justice Lee was set to deliver his verdict in the Federal Court in Sydney at 10.15am on Thursday.
However, Network Ten will try to reopen the defamation case at an urgent interlocutory hearing at 5pm on Tuesday, claiming there is new evidence that was not available during the trial.
Ten’s application reportedly hinges on a 2000-page affidavit by former Channel Seven producer Taylor Auerbach, who was on the team responsible for securing exclusive interviews with Mr Lehrmann on the network’s Spotlight program.
If successful, the network may seek to call Mr Auerbach to see if he can shed light on whether Mr Lehrmann was responsible for leaking confidential texts and recordings to Seven.
The leaked information had originally been collected by Australian Federal Police during the investigation into Ms Higgins’ rape allegations, before parts of it were broadcast during Mr Lehrmann’s Spotlight interviews last year.
Evidence obtained by police during an investigation is not to be used beyond court proceedings, which is known as the Harman undertaking.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Mr Lehrmann did leak the information.
Bruce Lehrmannis pictured outside a Paddington pub with a friend on Easter Monday
Taylor Auerbach (pictured) stopped working for Channel Seven last year. He took a role with Sky News earlier this year
The broadcast material comprised Ms Higgins’ private messages, CCTV of Ms Higgins and Mr Lehrmann arriving at Parliament House on the night of the alleged rape in March 2019, and a recorded conversation between the former staffer, her fiancé David Sharaz, Wilkinson and her network producer Angus Llewellyn.
The chat ran for about five hours and was recorded in the lead-up to Ms Higgins interview on The Project in 2021.
It was highly embarrassing for Ten and Wilkinson, with the TV host divulging her personal opinions about various politicians and wargaming ways to pressure the former Morrison government.
During the defamation trial, Mr Lehrmann was being cross-examined by Wilkinson’s barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC when he denied leaking the material.
Referring to Mr Lehrmann’s exclusive agreement with Channel Seven, Ms Chrysanthou asked: ‘In addition to giving the interviews, you also agreed to give all information, documents, film, video, photographs, items and assistance?’
Mr Lehrmann replied: ‘Yes.’
Ms Chrysanthou asked: ‘And did you do so?’
He replied: ‘No, I just gave an interview.’
Matthew Richardson SC, a barrister acting for Mr Lehrmann, also told the Federal Court last year that his client denied leaking the material.
Justice Lee could disregard Mr Auerbach’s evidence and proceed with the judgement at 10.15am on Thursday, or he could allow Mr Lehrmann’s lawyers to make written submissions on the affidavit.
He could also put Mr Auerback in the witness box or recall Mr Lehrmann to give evidence.
If Mr Auerbach’s claims are admitted into evidence, Mr Lehrmann’s credibility could be called into question.
It could also support Ten’s argument that Mr Lehrmann’s evidence given in the defamation trial should not be accepted.
Brittany Higgins (right) and David Sharaz (left) are pictured in Perth last month
