Home / Crime and Justice / Higgins Breathes Sigh of Relief After Appeal Loss
Higgins Breathes Sigh of Relief After Appeal Loss
4 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Brittany Higgins stated she can 'breathe again' after legal victory.
- Bruce Lehrmann lost his defamation appeal against a rape finding.
- Lehrmann faces further charges in Tasmania for alleged car theft.
Brittany Higgins has declared she can 'breathe again' following the dismissal of Bruce Lehrmann's appeal against a defamation ruling. The federal court's full bench upheld Justice Michael Lee's April 2024 finding that Lehrmann, a former Liberal staffer, raped Higgins in Parliament House in 2019. Higgins shared her profound relief on social media, describing the legal process as a re-traumatizing "rape trial" where perpetrators weaponize the system against survivors.
Lehrmann has consistently denied sexually assaulting Higgins. A previous criminal trial in 2022 was halted due to juror misconduct. Despite the appeal loss, Lehrmann is reportedly seeking legal advice for a potential High Court challenge. He was initially ordered to pay $2 million in damages and will now also cover the legal costs of his opponents from the failed appeal.
Adding to his legal troubles, Lehrmann is scheduled to appear in court in Hobart, Tasmania, on December 5, 2025, over allegations of car theft. He denies stealing a Toyota Prado in November 2024. A warrant for his arrest was issued on November 6, 2025, after he missed a preliminary hearing, with his lawyer citing urgent medical issues.
