In Bruce Lehrman’s blue notebook: Lisa Wilkinson’s attorney Sue Chrysanthou attacks ex-employee

Bruce Lehrmann scribbled the names of two top actors in a blue notebook confiscated by police – those of Geoffrey Rush and John Jarratt, both men who sued after being hounded by the media.

The former political staffer is suing Channel 10 and news.com.au for defamation over reports they aired in March 2021 in which Brittany Higgins claimed she raped her in Parliament House by an unnamed man – him – in 2019.

During Thursday’s cross-examination of Mr. Lehrmann, Ten presenter Lisa Wilkinson’s attorney Sue Chrysanthou referred to a page in a blue notebook he kept in March 2021 – entitled “Higgins Matter”.

She said there was a page in the book that had the name “Wilkinson” written with a horizontal line and two dashes from it – one dash said “Rush” and the other said “Jarratt”.

Both John Jarratt and Geoffrey Rush hired Ms Chrysanthou in 2021 and 2020 respectively to represent her in defamation cases similar to those of Mr Lehrmann.

Both actors have been accused of sexual misconduct – Jarratt was charged with rape and found not guilty by a jury; while Rush was accused of engaging in sexually inappropriate behavior with a colleague – and sued both media outlets for publishing the allegations.

About Jarratt, the Wolf Creek star, Ms. Chrysanthou told Mr. Lehrman: “You knew he sued for defamation despite being charged?”

Bruce Lehrmann is pictured outside federal court in Sydney on Thursday – where he took the witness stand in court for the first time ever

Australian actors Geoffrey Rush (left) and John Jarratt (right) were both named in Bruce Lehrman’s blue notebook

Herr Lehrmann replied: “I knew about his case, but was not charged”.

Ms Chrysanthou said: “I would like to suggest that the reason you gave [Rush’s] Names came because he sued for defamation within a week.

Herr Lehrmann replied: “Not within a week”.

He then explained that he had intended to sue for defamation at the time, but that he did not have the financial means to pay a defamation attorney.

Ms. Chrysanthou asked, “You don’t have the financial capacity to conduct a defamation trial right now, do you?”

Justice Lee contradicted this question and she withdrew it.

Instead she asked: You had no idea if you could find lawyers without paying them, did you? Because of defamation proceedings.”

“You had a defamation case in mind in March 2021, didn’t you?” She continued.

Mr. Lehrmann, who looked visibly uncomfortable, said: “I’ve thought of that,” before explaining that he was advised not to start civil proceedings at this time.

Lisa Wilkinson’s attorney Sue Chrysanthou (pictured) grilled Bruce Lehrmann on Thursday

Bruce Lehrmann (pictured center, Thursday) fabricated a version of what happened at a meeting with his attorney for his girlfriend Greta Sinclair, the federal court heard

An evening when Lehrmann “poured his heart out” to his lawyer over a glass of Scotch and fired off desperate, drunken messages to his then-girlfriend was otherwise the focus of an interim hearing on Thursday.

On February 15, 2021, Mr. Lehrmann sat down with his lawyer, Warwick Korn, at his Sydney office and was furious when Higgins accused him of raping her.

Mr. Lehrmann’s then-girlfriend, Greta Sinclair, was dismayed by the extraordinary allegations on television.

He reassured her by firing off messages suggesting his attorney had told him he was a “pawn” and “part of a larger political hatchet.”

During another cross-examination Thursday, Mr. Lehrmann admitted to Ten’s attorney, Matthew Collins KC, that Mr. Korn never said that.

Text messages emerged in which Mr. Lehrmann told Ms. Sinclair that he was having a “glass of Scotch” in Mr. Korn’s office while he awaited Lisa Wilkinson’s interview with Ms. Higgins on current affairs.

“If I’m named tonight, I face millions of dollars in libel… (Mr. Korn) said I won’t see the light of a courtroom,” he assured her.

Later that evening at 10:02 p.m. he sent Mrs Sinclair another message stating: [Mr Korn] but always takes notes, very professional.”

While being grilled in court, Mr. Lehrmann admitted that Mr. Korn had actually not taken any notes during their conversation, insisting he just wanted to make Ms. Sinclair feel okay.

“I wanted her to think I had my house in order.”

Mr Lehrmann sent a series of messages to his then-girlfriend Greta Sinclair after the allegations against him were broadcast (pictured). He later told the court most of them were “made up” to “appease” her because she was upset

dr Collins suggested that meeting Mr Korn “wasn’t professional at all” because “you were there pouring your heart out and drinking scotch” and “Mr Korn wasn’t taking any notes?”.

Herr Lehrmann admitted: “It wasn’t him. As far as I remember, no.«

The following day, Mr Lehrmann went to the Royal North Shore Hospital for psychiatric treatment, where he was placed under “30-minute” observation. He told the hospital he was “quite drunk” the night before.

He then volunteered at a psychiatric facility and stayed there for 12 days.

Lehrmann was not named on the Channel 10 program or in an article on news.com.au, but his claim argues that his identity was known in political circles.

Although he was not named in the Wilkinson interview with Higgins (the pair are pictured above after their project interview), Lehrmann’s claim argues that his identity would have been known in political circles

In Mr. Lehrmann’s interim hearing on Thursday, it was about why it took him two years to file the defamation lawsuit.

Claimants typically have 12 months after publication to file a defamation case, but Mr. Lehrmann’s case was filed two years later.

His lawyers argued that it was unreasonable for him to start the case earlier.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the network and the news website argued that he shouldn’t be allowed to sue for defamation because it was reasonable for him to file the suit within the first year.

The hearing was adjourned to Thursday 23 March.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk