Brittany Higgins has said her “heart broke” for the Queensland woman who has alleged she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann in October 2021.
In a statement posted to her Instagram story, Higgins addressed the woman directly, writing: “When I first found out about the alleged sexual assault my heart broke for you.”
“To know that this has allegedly taken place while he was out on bail in 2021 is devastating.”
Higgins went on to say she noted the fact that the woman “decide (sic) to come forward despite seeing the horrific championing of this individual in the media all year.”
“I’m so so sorry this allegedly happened to you.”
Last week, Lehrmann was revealed as the “high-profile” man facing allegations of rape from a woman he met at a night club in Toowoomba, Queensland. Lehrmann is charged with two counts of raping the woman in October 2021, with early committal proceedings being in progress since January this year at Toowoomba magistrates court.
Lehrmann has not yet been committed to stand trial.
Lehrmann was named as the person at the centre of the case when the Supreme Court of Queenlsand lifted a suppression order that had meant his identity had remained hidden until then.
In lifting the suppression order, Justice Peter Applegarth noted that Lehrmann had taken part in three high-profile television interviews in 2023.
Lehrmann’s legal team had attempted to keep his name out of the national spotlight, citing a report from a clinical psychologist who had diagnosed Lehrmann with adjustment disorder and depressed mood.
Previously, Lehrmann was accused of raping Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in March 2019. He faced one charge of sexual intercourse without consent in the ACT. The initial trial was discontinued due to juror misconduct. A retrial was set for February 2023 but was abandoned due to the unacceptable health risk posed to the complainant.
Lehrmann has always denied the allegation.