Not guilty plea in Higgins case

QUEENSLAND man Bruce Lehrmann has entered a plea of not guilty to sexually assaulting Brittany Higgins at Parliament House in 2019.

Mr Lehrmann did not appear before the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday, where his lawyer Warwick Korn entered the plea on his behalf.

Ms Higgins came forward in February alleging she had been assaulted in the office of then Defence Minister Linda Reynolds on March 23, 2019. Mr Lehrmann denies the claim.

He faces a charge of sexual intercourse without consent, being reckless as to whether Ms Higgins had consented.

“I am instructed to enter a plea of not guilty,” Mr Korn told the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Prosecutor Shane Drumgold SC said the brief of evidence had already been served in the matter, meaning the usual 10-week period to prepare it was not needed.

Mr Korn requested a fourweek adjournment and the matter was adjourned to October 14, when Mr Lehrmann is likely to be committed for trial in the Supreme Court.

Ms Higgins has granted permission to be identified as the alleged victim in Mr Lehrmann’s court matter.