Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial live: Brittany Higgins returns to witness stand to face cross-examination

Higgins is a witness for the defence in Lehrmann’s defamation suit in the federal court against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson. Follow the latest news and updates from day nine of the trial

A WARNING FOR READERS: this blog contains graphic details of allegations of sexual assault

Watch the Bruce Lehrmann live stream on YouTube hereTwo lives in the balance over the rape allegations dividing Australia

A warning for readers: this blog contains graphic details of allegations of sexual assault.

Brittany Higgins has listened to Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister’s proposition of what took place in Senator Linda Reynolds’ suite on the night of the alleged rape.

I want to suggest that what happened is that you went into that office and you were feeling sick and lay down on the [minister’s] couch.

I don’t know. After being on the [window] ledge the next thing I know was Bruce raping me on the couch. So I don’t know how I got to the couch.

I suggest you took your dress off before you lay down on the couch.

I don’t know how or exactly where my dress ended up.

According to what you told [Maiden] then you remember laying down on the minister’s couch?

I was trying to get into the spot of when I was being raped. I was on the couch I was drunk and he was raping me.

Yeah, I was. I was always concerned about what Bruce would say if he said it was consensual sex. I was always scared about consent and how it appeared.

You knew that whatever footage was held by Parliament House didn’t include inside the suite?

I had no idea. I’ve never seen a camera in the minister’s suite but I didn’t know.

I hadn’t been raped yet but I was skipping in the middle of parliament with no shoes on so it indicates someone is pretty drunk, yes.

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Law (Australia) | The Guardian