Shane drumgold brittany higgins

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, shane drumgold brittany higgins. Mr Lehrmann's trial was abandoned and there are no findings against him — he maintains his innocence.

Jude McCulloch 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 ACT government on Monday officially released the report from the inquiry into the prosecution of former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann over the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in Lehrmann has consistently denied the allegation. The inquiry is only one of at least seven legal proceedings linked to the high-profile, politically-charged case. One journalist received the report before it was handed to Chief Minister Andrew Barr. Despite this, the report found the prosecution was properly brought — in other words, that the decision to prosecute was appropriate. This is significant because whether there was sufficient evidence to charge Lehrmann was a central issue of tension between the police and Drumgold.

Shane drumgold brittany higgins

Bruce Lehrmann inquiry report accuses ACT director of public prosecutions of 'knowingly lying', making 'wholly false' allegations. A report from the board of inquiry — the ACT's equivalent of a royal commission — into the conduct of police and prosecutors during Mr Lehrmann's case was handed to the ACT government on Monday, and has yet to be released publicly. But the ABC has seen a copy of the report and can confirm damning findings against ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold, including that all of the "scandalous allegations" he made about police, that had led to the inquiry, had been "wholly false and without any rational basis". When contacted by the ABC, Mr Drumgold said: "Unfortunately, I have neither seen the report, nor have I been informed of any of its contents, so I am not in a position to respond. Mr Drumgold has been on leave from his position since May , after facing gruelling questioning as part of the inquiry. 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". It said, as a result, it would bring forward the public release of the report to early next week. 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. In the end, Mr Lehrmann's trial was discontinued and the charges against him were dropped after Mr Drumgold determined that a retrial would pose an unacceptable risk to Ms Higgins's health. Mr Lehrmann has maintained his innocence. In Mr Sofronoff's final report, he roundly criticised Mr Drumgold.

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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

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. Drumgold has been provided with the report. The ACT government will make a detailed statement in response to it early this week. Sofronoff found Drumgold had lied to the ACT Chief Justice Lucy McCallum, who was conducting the trial, over what he had said to journalist Lisa Wilkinson about the speech she subsequently made when she won a Logie for her interview with Higgins.

Shane drumgold brittany higgins

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.

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Walter Sofronoff's report calls for better prosecution guidelines for police, greater transparency in decisions, and a clearer understanding of the threshold for charging people with sexual offences. As the inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann's trial wrapped up, it was clear the goalposts had shifted. However, Sofronoff does state: although I think that police investigators accomplished a thorough investigation, I have found that they made some mistakes. What is the Sofronoff report and why has it caused such a scandal? Despite this, the report found the prosecution was properly brought — in other words, that the decision to prosecute was appropriate. Indeed the report, and particularly the early publication of its findings in the media, have wrought further damage to the criminal justice system, brought more harm to those involved, and will most likely undermine confidence in the system. Drumgold, who has now resigned, rejects many of the findings , maintaining:. Such material is typically treated as protected confidence by the court and cannot be seen without consent. Footer ABC News homepage. Meanwhile, the ACT government says it is examining whether the premature release of the report was unlawful. Bing Site Web Enter search term: Search.

Accusations crumbling and concessions coming thick and fast in inquiry into trial of Bruce Lehrmann. The inquiry into the prosecution of former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann over the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins should have been simple enough. However, the independent probe has been anything but — particularly for the ACT officials in the hot seat.

Share or comment on this article: Bruce Lehrmann case: prosecutor Shane Drumgold extends leave after Brittany Higgins rape inquiry e-mail. During the public hearings, it emerged Mr Drumgold had also received the notes from police and had read them. 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. Drumgold, who has now resigned, rejects many of the findings , maintaining:. View image in fullscreen. 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 Despite this, the report found the prosecution was properly brought — in other words, that the decision to prosecute was appropriate. He says that includes making findings that he had made false statements in explaining his role in releasing a damning letter to Guardian Australia via freedom of information law. During the inquiry, Mr Drumgold said a series of 'strange things' led him to suspect a political conspiracy in the case was 'probable, if not possible'. Princess of Wales goes without her wedding rings as she showcases a pared-down look with jeans and reworn