Brittany Higgins launches withering Instagram attack on witness at the Bruce Lehrmann trial

Brittany Higgins has launched a withering attack on a witness in the trial of her accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann, accusing them of a ‘perversion of justice’ – before suddenly deleting the Instagram posts. 

The former Liberal staffer has largely remained silent about the four-week hearing in the ACT Supreme Court since it was aborted in October due to misconduct by a juror.

She had alleged Mr Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House in March 2019. The accused had pleaded not guilty to one charge of sexual intercourse without consent and strenuously denied any sexual interaction with Ms Higgins.

On Wednesday night, Ms Higgins spoke out about the aborted trial for the first time since the ACT Government announced it there would be an inquiry to examine why public prosecutors went ahead with the first hearing but didn’t proceed with a second.

In the post, Ms Higgins said she agreed with a statement from the Canberra Liberal party saying which said it would ‘welcome’ the inquiry and suggested a review into whether ‘political interference’ was a factor in the case.

She then slammed a witness, who Daily Mail Australia cannot name for legal reasons, for allegedly ‘lying under oath’. 

Brittany Higgins is pictured with her boyfriend, David Sharaz. On Wednesday, she unleashed on a witness in the trial of her accused rapist on Instagram

Ms Higgins uploaded a five-page story (screenshot pictured) to her Instagram account on Wednesday, which she then deleted

‘I agree Canberra Liberals. The Lehrmann review should be looking into political interference,’ she wrote.

‘Maybe let’s start with this? The intentional perversion of justice.’ 

She then uploaded screenshots of the court transcript of a conversation between her and a witness in the trial, but deleted it hours later. 

Earlier on Wednesday, ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury and Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced the independent inquiry after a number of ‘complaints and allegations’ were made about the trial.

In the post, Ms Higgins said she agreed with a statement from the Canberra Liberal party saying which said it would ‘welcome’ the inquiry (pictured)

Bruce Lehrmann at his rape trial in November. The trial was aborted due to juror misconduct

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Mr Barr said a full inquiry was the most appropriate response given the ‘high-profile’ nature of the trial, while Mr Rattenbury stressed the inquiry was not in relation to the outcome of the trial.

Rather, it will consider whether the functions of criminal justice entities were ‘discharged with appropriate rigour, impartiality, and independence’.

It will also consider whether the support provided by the Victims of Crime Commissioner to Ms Higgins aligned with the relevant statutory framework and the legal framework for addressing juror misconduct. 

Ms Higgins welcomed the inquiry in an earlier Instagram post on Wednesday – she shared the news, and posted the cryptic comment: ‘Sunlight is the best disinfectant’.

A statement released on behalf of Mr Lehrmann said he ‘welcomes an inquiry and hope the terms of reference will extend to an examination of all aspects of this matter, including decisions not to prosecute various individuals and the efforts taken by the DPP to ensure a fair trial’.

Teh inquiry was launched after ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold (pictured) raised concerns about ‘political and police conduct’

The inquiry will be able to hold hearings – both public and private – issue search warrants, compel the production of documents, and compel the attendance of witnesses and take their evidence on oath.

It was launched after ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold raised concerns about ‘political and police conduct’ in the case.

He also wrote to the territory’s police chief accusing his members of pressuring him not to prosecute Mr Lehrmann.

But the police union accused Mr Drumgold of attempting to smear officers, saying it ‘firmly believes’ the public prosecutor compromised Mr Lehrmann’s trial.

It is expected a report will be provided to the chief minister in the first half of 2023.