British TV chef Nigella Lawson showed support for Lisa Wilkinson after she won her defamation case against Bruce Lehrmann. Lehrmann sued Network Ten and Wilkinson following a report on The Project where Brittany Higgins claimed Lehrmann raped her in a Parliament House office. Federal Court Justice Michael Lee ruled in Network 10’s favour, stating the report was truthful. Nigella Lawson congratulated Wilkinson on her victory, and Wilkinson thanked her barrister, family, friends, and the public for their support.
Lehrmann was found to have raped Ms. Higgins according to Justice Lee, who made the ruling based on the civil court standard of the balance of probabilities. Wilkinson expressed hope that the judgment would give strength to women across the country. She credited her legal team, including barrister Sue Chrysanthou KC, for their ongoing support. While Wilkinson received overwhelming support, Lehrmann remained silent following the ruling, with the judge describing him as being focused on having sex without concern for consent.
Lehrmann launched defamation proceedings after the criminal trial fell through, but Justice Lee noted that any potential damages would have been minimal. The Logies speech by Lisa Wilkinson derailed criminal proceedings against Lehrmann, allowing his legal team extra time to challenge Ms. Higgins’ allegations. The judge called both Lehrmann and Higgins unreliable historians, criticizing Higgins for inaccuracies and Ten for their improper conduct surrounding Wilkinson’s supportive speech for Higgins.
Justice Lee stated that any incorrect statements made by Higgins to the police in 2019 were understandable for a genuine victim of sexual assault. He also highlighted Ten’s mishandling of the situation, suggesting that they failed Wilkinson by pushing her to deliver the speech supporting Higgins before Lehrmann’s trial. Despite the challenges faced, Wilkinson expressed gratitude for the love and support she received from her family, friends, and the public throughout the legal process.
Nigella Lawson and Lisa Wilkinson have previously interacted, sharing moments like cooking together and exchanging supportive comments on social media. Wilkinson’s victory in the defamation case against Lehrmann was a significant moment of triumph, with Justice Lee’s ruling confirming the truthfulness of the report about Lehrmann’s actions towards Higgins. The case highlighted the importance of supporting victims of assault and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. Following the judgment, Wilkinson expressed relief and hope that the outcome would empower other women to come forward with their experiences.
