What I had viewed in the Brittany Higgins sexual assault case was trial by media, this was a clear case of attempting to turn public opinion against Bruce Lehrmann and try to break him. From what I could determine, his legal team was well run, it was very tight, no loose comments and emotional outbursts. The Higgins legal team were very loose, her comments outside the court after the mistrial were emotional and ill conceived, her legal team should never have let that happen, now she is exposed.

From the outset, I saw this moving to a defamation hearing because if the prosecution was just relying on the facts of the case, I thought it may be tight as there was no immediate police report, no medical examination and no proof a sexual assault taking place. Bruce Lehrmann maintained his innocence claiming no sexual activity took place, Brittany Higgins claimed she woke up mid-rape, the prosecution had an uphill battle as there were no other witnesses.

Even before the mistrial, the jury was taking a long time to deliberate, the longer it took, the more chance he had. The mis-trial could have robbed him of a verdict, with charges now dropped, he will be forever viewed as the guy who got away with it on a technicality. Was Bruce Lehrmann a good guy? I do not know him, but I suspect not. Did he abuse his position, it appears that he did, but once again, this needs to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, it appears the prosecution were unable to do this.

The role of the media in this case has been outrageous, no longer did the principle of innocence until proven guilty apply, Channel Ten and The Project will now face scrutiny. Their slogan of news delivered differently really applies here, Lisa Wilkinson, after already delaying the case could find herself personally liable, along with her husband Peter FitzSimonds, they may be making some financial donations to the Lehrmann legal team.