Lisa Wilkinson’s defamation barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, has argued to be allowed to cross-examine Bruce Lehrmann.
Mr Lehrmann is suing Channel Ten and Lisa Wilkinson over an episode of The Project in 2021, during which Brittany Higgins first aired her rape allegations against him.
He has continually denied the allegations. He was not named in that broadcast, but he claims friends and colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.
Mr Lehrmann has been on the witness stand for three days so far. His cross-examination by Ten’s barrister, Matthew Collins KC, will continue on Monday.
Last week, Ms Chrysanthou told the court she wanted to cross-examine Mr Lehrmann once Dr Collins was finished.
Justice Michael Lee asked her to submit her argument for doing so because Ten and Wilkinson are being sued over the same matter.
On Monday morning, Justice Lee almost laughed as he told Ms Chrysanthou he received her arguments.
‘Submitted 12 hours before your honour required them,’ she told the judge.
Justice Lee was hesitant to allow MS Chrysanthou to allow her to question Mr Lehrmann because he failed to see how her questions would be any different to Dr Collins’ questions.
Ms Chrysanthou argued in court on Monday that her cross-examination would traverse issues that did not concern the network.
Justice Lee said he would allow Ms Chrysanthou to cross-examine Mr Lehrmann, as long as her line of questioning was not a duplication of Ten’s cross-examination.
Wilkinson arrived at the Federal Court with Ms Chrysanthou on Monday, dressed in a dusty pink power suit.
