According to a senior police official who looked into Brittany Higgins’s rape accusation, Bruce Lehrmann was charged because of pressure from Brittany Higgins, the media, and the police themselves.
ACT Detective Superintendent Scott Moller, who is leading an inquiry into how the case against Mr. Lehrmann was handled by criminal justice organisations, claimed that the case’s investigating officers were under a lot of pressure.
However, ACT Commander Michael Chew instructed Superintendent Moller to “get it done” despite his belief that there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against Mr. Lehrmann.
A “significant amount of pressure” from Ms. Higgins, according to Superintendent Moller, was also present.
“I don’t want to take full responsibility… I find it difficult to describe the level of pressure that was on us at the moment, he said.
Commander Chew is also anticipated to be questioned as the investigation progresses.
When it was discovered that a juror had taken items into the jury chamber that had not been offered as evidence during the trial, the jury in Mr. Lehrmann’s trial was expelled last year.
Since the trial was discontinued, Mr. Lehrmann has maintained his innocence, and no charges have been brought against him.
After an hour of delay, the eighth day of the ACT board of inquiry started today.
Inquiry chair Walter Sofronoff criticised last Friday’s front page of News Corp’s The Australian, which included a picture of the ACT’s top prosecutor, in his opening remarks.
Mr. Sofronoff questioned the newspaper’s choice to include a picture of Shane Drumgold, the director of public prosecutions (DPP), enjoying a beer in his driveway along with the title, “Crown lager or Drumgold bitter? Beer time is called by the prosecutor.
Mr. Sofronoff admitted before the panel, “I’m stymied at trying to think of the legitimate objective of doing this.
Additionally, he expressed concern that the front page of the newspaper would have an impact on individuals testifying in the investigation.
Mr. Drumgold took a leave of absence from the DPP last week after testifying for himself during the investigation.
Mr. Sofronoff informed the panel that he had sent a letter to Michelle Gunn, editor of The Australian, requesting justification for the front page.
