Texts show it was unreasonable for Bruce Lehrmann not to file defamation claim within year, defence says

Lehrmann denies receiving legal advice that he would not be criminally prosecuted and says delay was to avoid risk of prejudice

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Lawyers for Network Ten have questioned “how on Earth” it was reasonable for Bruce Lehrmann to sit on his hands and not file a defamation claim for 12 months, despite being told he had a “red hot defamation case”, was going to “make millions” and that he didn’t need to worry about a criminal prosecution.

Lehrmann is trying to convince the federal court to give him an extension to the usual 12-month time limit on bringing defamation claims, blaming the delay on the criminal proceedings, prior legal advice to not immediately pursue defamation proceedings and his mental health.

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