Brittany Higgins is an honest and credible witness who has not wavered in her accusation of sexual assault, a jury has been told.
The trial of the man accused of raping Higgins inside Parliament is coming to an end and the prosecution is completing its final arguments.
Bruce Lehrmann is on trial in the ACT Supreme Court after he pleaded not guilty to having sex without consent.
Brittany Higgins is an “honest and credible” witness, the jury in Bruce Lehrmann’s rape trial has been told. (Getty)
Higgins alleges the assault took place in the office of former cabinet minister Linda Reynolds, for whom she and Lehrmann worked as clerks, in 2019.
Prosecutor Shane Drumgold urged the jury not to be distracted by outside discussions about workplace culture in Parliament and the Me Too movement.
He said the crux of the case was whether Higgins made up his sexual assault allegation.
He told the jury that if he did, it was an elaborate fabrication and that he was “all actor”.
Drumgold said Higgins has not wavered in her evidence and was honest when she could not remember specific things.
He said his version of events had remained the same from the days after the alleged assault, to his police report two years later, to his appearance on the witness stand.
“I submit that Higgins is an inherently credible witness,” Drumgold said.
Bruce Lehrmann is on trial in the ACT Supreme Court after he pleaded not guilty to having sex without consent. (new)
Meanwhile, he said Lehrmann had given inconsistent accounts of his reasons for being in parliament on the night of the alleged assault to security guards, his boss and police.
Drumgold said Lehrmann’s intention was to go to Parliament with a “drunk” and “vulnerable” Higgins.
“We say this was the most convenient place to get her (Mrs Higgins) alone, not a sudden need to work in the middle of the night,” he said on Tuesday.
Drumgold said the defense has argued that Higgins filed a grievance to keep her staff job in Reynolds’ office, but noted that she did not reapply for that job after the election.
He told the jury there were strong political forces at play in the period immediately after the alleged events, leading up to the 2019 federal election and beyond.
On Monday, Linda Reynolds was charged with attempting to interfere with the trial by requesting a copy of the transcript of Higgins’ evidence. (Alex Ellinghausen)
“It is abundantly clear from Senator Reynolds’ actions during this trial that these political forces were still a factor,” he said.
Drumgold also said Higgins had a right to be afraid when he was considering making a police complaint.
“It is clear that this is a young woman in the midst of strong political forces,” he said.
“We say he was right to be afraid, he was right to be cautious, and he was right to move slowly and carefully.”
On Monday, Drumgold accused Reynolds of trying to interfere with the trial by requesting a copy of the transcript of Higgins’ evidence and sending suggestions to the defense.
Reynolds said he did not want to coach his former employee’s cross-examination and was “curious” about what had been said in court.
Advised by her attorney that it was “inappropriate” to access a transcript, Reynolds did not receive one.
Closing arguments continue.
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.