Why is there an inquiry into the Bruce Lehrmann trial? Legal experts explain

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On Monday, opening statements were delivered in an inquiry into the prosecution of Lehrmann over the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins.

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The ConversationThe Conversation
URL: 
https://theconversation.com/why-is-there-an-inquiry-into-the-bruce-lehrmann-trial-legal-experts-explain-200738https://theconversation.com/why-is-there-an-inquiry-into-the-bruce-lehrmann-trial-legal-experts-explain-200738
Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
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Tags: 
ACT, Defamation, Freedom, Victim, Politics, Policy, Director of Public Prosecutions (Ireland), DPP, Lawyer, Element, Section 20 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Government, Documentation, Risk, Police, Capital, Letter, Mental health, Social media, Legislation, Private investigator, Pharmaceutical industry, Publishing, Guardian, 2021 Australian Parliament House sexual misconduct allegations, Debra Lehrmann
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QUEENSLAND
Summary
Key Points: 
  • On Monday, opening statements were delivered in an inquiry into the prosecution of Lehrmann over the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins.
  • Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to a charge of sexual intercourse without consent.
  • Read more:
    Lehrmann retrial abandoned because of 'a significant and unacceptable risk' to Brittany Higgins' life

‘Inappropriate interference’

    • It prosecutes criminal cases in the ACT, operating free from government influence.
    • That is, free from the parliament and the executive, which includes police ministers and police commissioners.
    • In other words, the DPP is to remain above politics, and stick entirely to principles of law, and agreed prosecutorial guidelines.

The task ahead

    • Sofronoff has quite the task ahead of him.
    • The decision as to whether to proceed with a prosecution remains with the DPP.
    • That is, the discretionary guidelines given to the DPP by legislation in relation to their choice to prosecute.
    • Rick Sarre is affiliated with the SA Labor Party, and is a Patron of the Justice Reform Initiative.
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