Brittany Higgins Was Raped: Judge Shares Findings in Defamation Trial

The judge said his findings were to a civil standard of proof—and not a criminal one.

Bruce Lehrmann arrives at the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney, on Feb. 13, 2024. AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

Justice Michael Lee has found that ex-political staffer Bruce Lehrmann raped his colleague Brittany Higgins, as part of his findings in Mr. Lehrmann’s defamation action against Channel 10.

The judge is still delivering the judgement, and more will follow.

“The first thing to be said about Ms. Higgins’ account is it involves a grave allegation,” Justice Lee said.

He said he found Ms. Higgins’ account more believable than Mr. Lehrmann’s, but there is a “subtle tension” between her varying accounts of the alleged rape.

Justice Lee found that Bruce Lehrmann had sex with Brittany Higgins at Parliament House in March 2019.