Community Seven has responded to the shock allegation within the Federal Courtroom over claims Bruce Lehrmann partied with intercourse employees and cocaine, insisting it’s “appalled” by the proof.
In an announcement issued on Thursday evening, Seven additionally rejected exterior court docket former Highlight producer Taylor Auerbach’s claims that he was provided a promotion and a pay rise after the masseuse allegations.
“Seven is appalled by the allegations made in latest days. We don’t condone the behaviours described in these allegations,’’ a spokesperson stated.
“They don’t replicate the tradition of Seven.
“Seven didn’t supply a promotion or pay rise to Mr Auerbach in November 2022, nor did it accomplish that at any time after that.
“Seven didn’t reimburse Bruce Lehrmann for expenditure that has allegedly been used to pay for unlawful medicine or prostitutes, and has by no means accomplished so. Seven notes the matter stays earlier than the courts.”
The community additionally took intention at claims it didn’t reply absolutely to authorized subpoenas within the case.
“Seven additionally takes subject with the allegations just lately made about its conduct,’’ a spokesman stated.
“Opposite to the claims reported within the media, Seven complied with all of its obligations in relation to producing paperwork in response to subpoenas issued to it.
“Seven has at no level requested anybody to delete or destroy any proof. As beforehand acknowledged, Seven didn’t condone or authorise the alleged funds to Mr Lehrmann referred to within the affidavits just lately made public.
“The individual concerned admitted to the misuse of a Seven company card and all unauthorised bills had been instantly reimbursed. Seven has acted appropriately always.”
‘State of undress’: Explosive allegation
On Thursday, Mr Auerbach gave proof in court docket after Community Ten received a last-minute bid to reopen the Lehrmann defamation case.
Courtroom has been adjourned till 10.15am on Friday.
Throughout cross examination, Bruce Lehrmann’s barrister Matthew Richardson requested Mr Auerbach if he had been concerned within the distribution of nude images of a girl sitting on a sofa with TV producer Steve Jackson.
“Is that true?’’ the barrister requested.
“Sure, sir,’’ Mr Auerbach replied.
“In some unspecified time in the future throughout February or March of this yr, did you flow into images of a girl in a state of undress taken about 5 years in the past?’’ Mr Richardson requested.
“Sure, sir,’’ he replied.
“The lady’s breasts had been uncovered in these images, appropriate?’’ the barrister requested.
“Sure, sir,’’ he replied.
She was a girl you understood to be weak, appropriate?” the barrister requested.
“No,’’ Mr Auerbach replied.
“So that you despatched these images to media organisations didn’t you?’’ the barrister stated.
“You didn’t acquire the consent of the lady in query to do that. Do you know you had been conscious that it was a felony act to ship images … to 3rd events with out consent?
“You’re conscious it was a felony act to ship images of that sort to 3rd events with out consent?”
“No,’’ he replied.
Mr Lehrmann’s barrister then requested if this was the rationale why he was sacked from Sky Information final yr.
“Now, did your employers at Sky grow to be conscious that this had occurred, that’s that you just had despatched these images?’’ the barrister requested.
“No, no, I don’t know,’’ Mr Auerbach replied.
“Isn’t that why you had been sacked?’’ the barrister requested.
Mr Auerbach stated it was not the rationale why he was sacked by Sky Information.
Allegations of cocaine and intercourse employees
Auerbach outlined what he stated occurred when he attended the Meriton in January, 2023.
He stated Mr Lehrmann bought a bag of cocaine.
“Once we received upstairs to the room, (Lehrmann) pulled it out and began to place it on a plate after which began speaking to me a few potential Highlight story and his want to order prostitutes to the Meriton that evening and commenced googling sequence of internet sites to try to make that occur,’’ Auerbach stated.
“And through that dialog he agreed to be in a Highlight interview, so long as we didn’t ask him about what occurred on the evening in Canberra.”
Dr Matt Collins KC, representing Ten, requested, “What did you say?”
“Properly I used to be stunned,’’ he stated.
Auerbach advised the court docket that he advised Mr Lehrmann he didn’t have the cash to pay for the medicine or intercourse employees on the evening on the Meriton. He advised the court docket Mr Lehrmann stated he would pay.
The producer stated he contacted his boss Steve Jackson and stated he was nervous given the earlier occasions with the Thai masseuse.
Mr Auerbach stated he recalled texting Jackson that Bruce was “on the warpath once more”.
“That is f**ked,’’ he stated.
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