Shane drumgold brittany higgins

Bruce Lehrmann inquiry report accuses ACT director of public prosecutions of 'knowingly lying', making 'wholly false' allegations.

The ACT Director of Public Prosecutions DPP has been quizzed in an inquiry about why he sought to prevent the release of a police report which raised concerns about the details of Brittany Higgins's rape allegation against Bruce Lehrmann. Mr Lehrmann's trial was abandoned and there are no findings against him — he maintains his innocence. The inquiry was set up after the DPP, Shane Drumgold, raised concerns he had been pressured by police not to pursue the charge against Mr Lehrmann. During proceedings on Monday, Mr Drumgold was asked whether he had sought to block a police report on the case from being released, to which he replied that he believed it contained "irrelevant material". In that document, prepared by detective superintendent Scott Moller and dubbed the Moller report, police described Ms Higgins as evasive, uncooperative and manipulative, arguing they were concerned about proceeding with the charge.

Shane drumgold brittany higgins

The review, conducted by former Queensland solicitor general and president of the Queensland court of appeal Walter Sofronoff, found that it was appropriate to prosecute the matter. Meanwhile, the ACT government says it is examining whether the premature release of the report was unlawful. One of those journalists was handed the report before it was given to chief minister Andrew Barr. That was because in all but three cases he was involved only on appeal. The Sofronoff report recommended clearer policies on the threshold for police to lay charges and prosecutors to record retrial decisions, which were all accepted in full or in principle by the ACT government. Higgins alleged Lehrmann, a former colleague, raped her in Parliament House in Lehrmann, who pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent, has always denied the allegation of rape and no findings have been made against him. Lehrmann was tried by the ACT supreme court in October but a mistrial was declared due to juror misconduct. Sofronoff report: the inquiry examining the police handling of the trial of Bruce Lehrmann has made damning findings against former ACT director of public prosecutions Shane Drumgold. This article is more than 6 months old. Read more. Quick Guide Key findings of the Sofronoff inquiry Show Main points from the report The ACT government has agreed to eight of 10 recommendations and agreed in principle to two further matters.

Mr Drumgold said if Ms Higgins heard that a senior police officer was writing what could be interpreted as "pejorative" comments about her, it "would inhibit her ability to engage in the trial".

ACT government also reveals Sofronoff report appeared to present paragraph from Australian newspaper as opinion of NSW supreme court judge. On Tuesday, the ACT government revealed that Drumgold was mounting an application for judicial review of the damning findings made about his conduct by Walter Sofronoff KC during his inquiry into the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann. Alternatively, Drumgold seeks to have the findings made against him specifically quashed or declared invalid. Drumgold argues that individuals working on the inquiry failed to comply with rules prohibiting the disclosure of information. The inquiry heard that during those public comments, Drumgold said he still believed there was a reasonable prospect of conviction and that Higgins had behaved with bravery, grace and dignity, and had been subjected to unprecedented attack.

Lehrmann pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent at a trial that collapsed in October due to juror misconduct. He has consistently maintained his innocence and denies any sexual activity took place between himself and Higgins. In subsequent meetings in April and June last year, Drumgold alleged that investigators continued to use mischaracterisations, cherrypicked evidence, and inaccurate select summaries of evidence to suggest weaknesses in the case and convince him to support their view that it should not proceed. During their final meeting in June, police presented him with a brief of evidence and a letter that purported to be a request for his advice on the case. Drumgold disagreed with their position. Police then directed that charges be laid. Drumgold told the police chief he wanted a public inquiry into the matter. Drumgold also requested that police cease any involvement in the then-looming retrial, save for their roles as witnesses. He complained that this affected the conduct of the trial.

Shane drumgold brittany higgins

Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The report from the inquiry by Walter Sofronoff, a former Queensland judge, commissioned by the ACT government, accuses Drumgold of serious misconduct and dishonesty. Lehrmann, at the time a Liberal staffer, was accused of raping his then colleague Brittany Higgins in a ministerial office in He has consistently denied the allegation. A trial was aborted after misconduct by a juror. The Sofronoff report, while not yet released although sent by the inquiry on an embargoed basis to certain media outlets , has been extensively reported.

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Urgent warning over 'incredibly harmful' starvemaxxing TikTok trend that charities fear could cause eating Are YOU a workaholic? Mr Sofronoff is understood to be notifying parties involved of his draft findings by Friday and will deliver his recommendations to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr by the end of the month. Drumgold, who has now resigned, rejects many of the findings , maintaining:. As such, they have no legal advocate in court. Meet Downton Abbey star's Canadian love interest as Mr Drumgold had quizzed the senator in a bid to challenge her credibility. Bing Site Web Enter search term: Search. Explore more on these topics Australian Capital Territory Australian police and policing news. In a statement, the ACT government said it was "disappointed" that the inquiry's report had been released to some media outlets by the board of inquiry, saying that was "not authorised by or communicated to the government". Nobody who gave evidence at the inquiry submitted that the prosecution should not have gone ahead, and the inquiry, run by former Queensland judge Walter Sofronoff KC, found that Mr Drumgold was justified in bringing the prosecution. Ant and Dec forced to apologise after guest swears live on air during Saturday Night Takeaway prank Gisele Bundchen and new boyfriend Joaquim Valente work up a sweat at Miami gym Higgins alleged Lehrmann, a former colleague, raped her in Parliament House in Mr Drumgold said he was taken aback by the tone of the first meeting, and efforts to thwart the prosecution.

One was a detective who had been investigating allegations of rape committed by the Liberal party staffer Bruce Lehrmann in Parliament House. Across an open square from the Cupping Room cafe where they met was the ACT supreme court, where the jury in the Lehrmann rape trial was five days into its deliberations. The two men walked to a nearby laneway.

He did not have to tender the notes to use them. Are YOU a workaholic? Shane Drumgold did not see Sofronoff inquiry findings before media leak. Police mistakenly sent Brittany Higgins's counselling notes to both Mr Drumgold and Mr Lehrmann's original defence lawyer. Who is Hugh Bonneville's new girlfriend Claire Rankin? Particular criticism was directed at the way Ms Higgins's counselling notes were dealt with by Mr Drumgold and the police. On Tuesday, the ACT government revealed that Drumgold was mounting an application for judicial review of the damning findings made about his conduct by Walter Sofronoff KC during his inquiry into the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann. The night Bowie saved his wife and his bodyguard from being arrested for having sex in the pool, as revealed New home is built right behind a lamppost now partly blocking the front door Hugh Bonneville 'looks so happy with Canadian comedy star Claire Rankin' after Downton Abbey actor 'went on Wilkinson won a Logie for her interview with Ms Higgins when she first disclosed her allegations of being raped at Parliament House.