Defiant Bruce Lehrmann finally speaks two years after Brittany Higgins’ shock rape claims – as footage of the two at Parliament House and his police interview are seen for the first time
- Bruce Lehrmann broke his two-year silence on Sunday
- Was asked direct questions about March 23, 2019
Bruce Lehrmann has broken his silence in a TV interview two years after Brittany Higgins accused him of raping her in Parliament House.
Mr Lehrmann featured in an extended episode of 7News Spotlight on Sunday night – during which journalist Liam Bartlett asked him a range of direct questions about what happened the night Brittany Higgins alleges he raped her.
Ms Higgins alleged Mr Lehrmann, her former colleague, sexually assaulted her in Parliament House after a night out in 2019.
Prior to the tell-all interview on Sunday,Mr Lehrmann’s version of events had only been told via his trial in the ACT Supreme Court last year – when his interview with police was played before a jury.
The former staffer strongly denied having any sexual contact with Ms Higgins during that interview, but had never divulged his version of events to the media.
The explosive interview on Sunday night began with four key questions: Did you rape Brittany Higgins? Did you have consensual sex? Did you kiss her? Were you intimate with her at all?
To each question, Mr Lehrmann replied ‘no’.
Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) has broken his silence in a TV interview two years after Brittany Higgins accused him of raping her in Parliament House
Mr Lehrmann was asked when he found out he had been accused of rape, to which he quickly replied ‘February 15, 2021’ – which was the night Ms Higgins first aired her allegations against him in a TV interview on The Project.
‘That date rolls off your tongue,’ Mr Bartlett said.
Mr Lehrmann replied: ‘Yep. That was a pretty dark day.’
According to her 2021 interview, Ms Higgins said she and Mr Lehrmann shared a taxi after a night out with colleagues on March 23, 2019 – they lived in the same direction, and were to be dropped off at their respective homes.
However, they stopped off at Parliament House because Mr Lehrmann said he had to pick something up from the office. They both worked for former defence industry minister Linda Reynolds at the time.
Ms Higgins told the ACT Supreme Court last year that she didn’t have her Parliament House pass on her, and had to be signed in – but claimed she was so drunk she was unable to sign her name.
Ms Higgins said she was highly intoxicated and fell asleep on a couch Senator Reynolds office. She alleged she woke up to Mr Lehrmann having sex with her.
Security footage of the pair entering Parliament House was aired during the trial, but it was aired publicly for the first time on Sunday. Ms Higgins could clearly be seen in her white Kookai dress, carrying her shoes as she entered the defence suite.
The episode also aired, for the first time, vision of Mr Lehrmann and Ms Higgins arriving at Parliament House moments before she alleges he raped her
Ms Higgins is seen here after making her way through Parliament House security
The 7News special also screened clips from Mr Lehrmann’s first police interview
Despite speculation that Mr Lehrmann was paid to do the interview, a network spokesperson said that was not the case.
‘7NEWS Spotlight made no payment to Bruce Lehrmann for the interview, however the program assisted with accommodation as part of the filming of the report,’ they said.
Mr Lehrmann was tried in a 12-day hearing in October last year, but a mistrial was declared after a jury member brought banned reading material into the court.
Shane Drumgold, the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, dropped the case altogether in December due to concerns over Ms Higgins’ mental health.
Brittany Higgins alleged Mr Lehrmann, her former colleague, sexually assaulted her in Parliament House after a night out in 2019
