JUDGE RULES ON RAPE IN AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT

Australian judge ruled on Monday that a conservative political staffer likely committed rape in parliament, a dramatic twist in a case that sparked national protests.

The judge threw out a defamation suit brought by the former staffer, Bruce Lehrmann, against Network 10 television after it broadcast an interview with his alleged victim, Brittany Higgins.

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee made his finding on the balance of probabilities, as required in civil cases. In a criminal case, a conviction must be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

“Mr Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins. I hasten to stress; this is a finding on the balance of probabilities,” the judge said.

Higgins has alleged that Lehrmann raped her on a couch inside the national parliamentary office of a government minister following a night of heavy drinking in March 2019.

Lehrmann has stridently maintained his innocence and has not been convicted of any criminal offense.

A criminal case against him on a charge of sexual intercourse without consent collapsed in October 2022.

A jury member was found with an academic paper on sexual assault—a document prohibited at the trial.

Prosecutors decided not to retry the criminal case.

In her interview with Network 10, Higgins did not name Lehrmann, but he claimed he was identifiable and filed a defamation case.

The defamation case failed because the judge saw that the allegations were likely true.

“Having escaped the lion’s den Mr. Lehrmann made the mistake of coming back for his hat,” Lee said.

The allegations first came to light through media reports in early 2021 and sparked nationwide protests.