Bruce Lehrmann used 3 barristers for his rape trial in 2022 and the names of 2 of his barristers, Steven Whybrow and Ben Jullienne, show up in the metadata as the author and last modifier of a document tendered as part of Taylor Auerbach’s affidavit, in the Federal Court of Australia on Friday (5/4/24).

The problem for Bruce Lehrmann is that he denies leaking documents and recordings from his rape trial in 2022 to Channel 7 for his interview on 7’s Spotlight program. But former channel 7 employee Taylor Auerbach, who gave evidence in the witness box on Thursday and Friday, says that is a lie and Lehrmann leaked numerous documents to him including 2300 pages of Brittany Higgins’ private text messages.

Channel Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, who Lehrmann is suing for defamation, claim that Lehrmann breached his Harman undertaking by providing Channel 7 with documents, recordings and text messages from the criminal trial.

If Lehrmann didn’t leak the documents how did Taylor Auerbach have a legal document titled “Master Chronology” which was authored by his barrister Ben Jullienne and last modified by his lead barrister Steve Whybrow?

Let’s look at the key piece of evidence first, then I’ll explain the kicker which is the final blow.

Bruce Lehrmann had 3 barristers representing him at his rape trial in 2022. His lead barrister was Steve Whybrow and one of the junior barristers was Ben Jullienne as per the screenshot on one of the judgements as below. (Click here to see on the judgment)

Former channel 7 employee Taylor Auerbach filed a number of affidavits and the one sworn on the 2nd of April 2024 has the “Master Chronology” and at page 83 has the metadata which shows it authored by his barrister Ben Jullienne and last modified by his lead barrister Steve Whybrow as per below. (Click here to read the affidavit)

The kicker is that Bruce Lehrmann refused to hop back in the witness box and refute the allegations made by Taylor Auerbach which includes that Lehrmann leaked the documents to Taylor Auerbach. That means the evidence is:

1. Taylor Auerbach provided documents and 2300 pages of Brittany Higgins’ personal text messages in his affidavits that he says he received from Bruce Lehrmann.
2. Taylor Auerbach gave evidence under oath in the witness box that he received the documents from Bruce Lehrmann. This evidence could have been challenged but Bruce Lehrmann wouldn’t hop back in the witness box to refute it.
3. The meta data as I have shown above proves one document provided to the court as evidence by Taylor Auerbach was authored by Lehrmann’s barrister Ben Jullienne and last modified by his lead barrister Steve Whybrow.
4. Channel 7 committed a crime by breaching a subpoena by failing to hand over documents and recordings to the court. One obvious reason could be is that if they did it would have shown they received the documents from Bruce Lehrmann.
5. As per the below agreement between Channel 7 and Bruce Lehrmann, as subpoenaed from Bruce Lehrmann by Channel 10, Lehrmann had to supply 7 with “all information. documents, film, video, photographs, items and assistance reasonably requested by Seven”.

(Click here to see the full Bruce Lehrmann – Seven agreement. The copy on the Federal Court website was badly scanned which might have been done with Seven’s help)

The bottom line is there are documents, a contract between Lehrman and 7 that supports Taylor Auerbach’s allegation that Lehrmann leaked documents to Mr Auerbach and Lehrmann refused to hop back in the witness box to refute Mr Auerbach’s allegations. 

Justice Michael Lee has no other viable option, based on the evidence, but to find Lehrmann did leak the documents and video to Channel 7 which would mean not only did Lehrmann perjure himself in the defamation case but he also committed a contempt of court in the rape trial by breaching the Harman undertaking.

Leaking the documents to attack Brittany Higgins was always part of the plan between Bruce Lehrmann, his barrister Steve Whybrow, Kerry Stokes and Seven to make money which I discussed in the December 2023 article titled “Bruce Lehrmann attempts a $12 million shakedown from Australian taxpayers with the help of his puppet master Kerry Stokes and Channel 7“.

In May 2023, only days after Channel 7 signed the deal with Bruce Lehrmann, Seven journalist Isabelle Mullen and Samantha Maiden were spreading lies about Brittany Higgins but they were forced to take down their stories under the threat of contempt charges.

I published an article on the 11th of May 2023 titled “Samantha Maiden uses frivolous rumour to shame Brittany Higgins on the orders of Rupert Murdoch to protect the Liberal Party” with more evidence as well as the below video:

On reflection, with what we know now, there’s a good chance that Seven journalist Isabelle Mullen’s and Samantha Maiden’s attacks on Brittany Higgins were part of Seven’s and News Corp’s deals with Bruce Lehrmann.

It’s long been known who the leakers are and in June 2023 I published an article titled “Bruce Lehrmann and his barrister Steve Whybrow should face contempt of court charges for leaking documents to harass Brittany Higgins“. The article has a lot of evidence including video of Steve Whybrow in the witness box at the ACT Inquiry answering questions about his relationship with News Corp’s Janet Albrechtsen. Neither Lehrmann nor Whybrow have ever complained about the article.

Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Steven Whybrow has played a big part in the leaks and attacks on Brittany Higgins for his own financial benefit and he has a lot of explaining to do as well.

Justice Michael Lee reserved his decision in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case but he gave the impression it won’t be far away.

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