THE COURTS:

Former Liberal Party federal ministerial staffer, Bruce Lehrmann, (at left in main picture) has been given a second chance to plead his case against a lower court ruling dismissing his defamation action against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.

Yesterday the Full Court of the Federal Court ended a two-day hearing of the Lehrmann appeal and reserved its decision.

But in a sensational development last night, the Full Court agreed to an urgent midnight sitting in Sydney to re-hear arguments seeking to overturn the April 2024 ruling by Federal Court Justice Michael Lee who had dismissed Lehrmann’s original defamation claim.

After yesterday’s Full Court hearing ended, Lehrmann dismissed his lawyer, solicitor Zali Burrows, (left right out of the picture) and engaged Melbourne legal identity Dennis Denuto. (at right in main picture)   

Mr Denuto immediately and successfully sought leave of the Full Court to have the case reheard, arguing that “the vibe” of this week’s hearing did not reflect the important principles embodied in the High Court of Australia’s 1992 decision in the Mabo case.

The midnight re-hearing did not last long after Mr Denuto zeroed in on what he submitted was the weakest argument made in the original ruling by Justice Lee who had said: “Having escaped the lion’s den Bruce Lehrmann made the mistake of going back for his hat.”

Mr Denuto told the Full Court’s three judges: “Justice Lee was clearly in error when he made that statement because my client has never, never, in his entire life, ever worn a hat.”

The Full Court judges immediately said they did not need to hear further pleadings and again reserved their decision.

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