Bruce Lehrmann was being tried by the ACT Supreme Court, charged with sexual intercourse without consent. He pleaded not guilty.

Higgins alleges Lehrmann raped her in the parliamentary office of Linda Reynolds in March 2019, when they were both working for the then defence industry minister. He denies any sexual interaction and opted not to give evidence in his defence during the trial.

Bruce Lehrmann arrives at the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday. Photo: AAP/Dean Lewins

The jury was dismissed this morning following a 12-day trial after a little more than five days of deliberations.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said it had been discovered a juror had undertaken some research in relation to the Brittany Higgins case which had entered the jury room.

“I have received evidence that at least one juror has had access to research material that was not provided to the jury during the trial,” McCallum said.

She said that during routine tidying, a sheriff accidentally bumped one of the juror’s document folders onto the floor.

The chief justice said when the officer picked up the box, he noticed part of the title page of an academic research paper.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered the topic of the paper was sexual assault.

The chief justice said the juror in question gave an explanation suggesting the document had not been used or relied upon.

However, she said it was appropriate to regard that evidence with some scepticism and the juror, and jury, was dismissed.

“It is beyond question the conduct of a juror is such to abort the trial,” she said.

A new trial has been set down for February 20 next year and Lehrmann will remain on bail.

Higgins then addressed the media outside the court, with her full statement broadcast live.

“I was required to tell the truth under oath for over a week in the witness stand; I was cross-examined at length,” she said as part of her statement.

“He was afforded the choice of staying silent in court, head down in a notebook, completely detached. He never faced one question in court about his story and the criminal charges.”

Higgins said that she was required to surrender her telephones, passwords, messages, photos and private data.

“My life has been publicly scrutinised, open for the world to see,” she said.

“His was not.”

Defence lawyer Steven Whybrow issued a written statement in response to the remarks.

“We have brought these comments to the attention of the court and the Australian Federal Police,” he said.

“It is not appropriate for Mr Lehrmann or his lawyers to make any comment as to whether the complainant’s statements might amount to a contempt of court or offences against the ACT Criminal Code.”

-with AAP