Patrick Bell
Canberra, ACT
Patrick is a multi-platform reporter in the ABC Canberra newsroom. He comes to the capital after working in regional New South Wales, in Tamworth, Dubbo, and Wollongong.
Latest by Patrick Bell
Review finds ACT Greens should have reported sexual misconduct allegations to police faster
By Patrick Bell
An independent review finds the ACT Greens should have gone to police as soon as the party was advised of rumours of sexual misconduct against former backbencher Johnathan Davis.
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Court documents detail expletive-ridden call from PM's office to Network Ten over interview with Brittany Higgins
By Patrick Bell
Former prime minister Scott Morrison's press secretary made an angry phone call to a Network Ten news executive after it aired an interview between Brittany Higgins and journalist Lisa Wilkinson, court documents have revealed.
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Bruce Lehrmann's lawyers say he is entitled to damages even if defamation trial judge finds sexual activity occurred with Brittany Higgins
By Patrick Bell
Final submissions released by the Federal Court in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation action against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson outline fresh attacks on the credibilities of Mr Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins.
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Analysis
analysis:Bruce Lehrmann's defamation trial has now wrapped, but a decision isn't expected until well into next year
By Elizabeth Byrne and Patrick Bell
Enormous volumes of evidence were given in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation trial against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, and will now be considered by Federal Court Justice Michael Lee, but a decision isn't expected until well into next year.
Bruce Lehrmann's lawyer questions Brittany Higgins's credibility in closing arguments of defamation case
By Patrick Bell
Bruce Lehrmann's barrister tells the Federal Court it cannot rely at all on the evidence of Brittany Higgins, as he makes his closing arguments in the defamation case brought by the former Liberal staffer.
Updated
'Fundamentally dishonest man': Network Ten lawyers make closing arguments in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case
By Patrick Bell
Network Ten's lawyers are summing up the broadcaster's defence before Bruce Lehrmann's legal team gives its closing arguments on Friday.
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Brittany Higgins said 'I don't want to' when Bruce Lehrmann told her to finish drink, lip-reader tells Federal Court
By Patrick Bell
Lip-reading expert Tim Reedy gives evidence on CCTV of Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins speaking at a bar on the night of her alleged rape at Parliament House.
Brittany Higgins's former chief of staff Fiona Brown allowed to give evidence in closed court session
By Patrick Bell
Fiona Brown, who was chief of staff for Senator Linda Reynolds at the time of Brittany Higgins's alleged rape, has been allowed to give evidence in a closed session as part of the defamation trial brought by Bruce Lehrmann against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, due to the potential for adverse effects on her mental health.
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Analysis
analysis:Lisa Wilkinson's evidence provided compelling viewing as she locked horns with Bruce Lehrmann's lawyers
By Elizabeth Byrne and Patrick Bell
Maybe it's the celebrity touch, but the public fascination with Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case has only increased this week, as journalist Lisa Wilkinson was cross-examined by Mr Lehrmann's barrister.
Lisa Wilkinson's objectivity questioned after revelation she accused Linda Reynolds of 'lying through her teeth'
By Patrick Bell
Lisa Wilkinson is facing a second day of cross-examination as she defends a defamation case brought by former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann.
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Lisa Wilkinson says she's not a 'cheap, tabloid journalist' as she defends airing Brittany Higgins interview
By Patrick Bell and Tahlia Roy
Bruce Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten over a 2021 The Project interview in which Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped at Parliament House.
Updated
Producer for The Project questioned about 'inconsistencies' in Brittany Higgins's interview
By Patrick Bell
Angus Llewellyn is facing his second day of cross-examination by Bruce Lehrmann's lawyer, focusing on alleged contradictory statements Brittany Higgins made during her interview on The Project.
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Sky News produces alleged secret recording of conversation between Brittany Higgins's lawyer and fiance
By Patrick Bell
Sky News complies with Justice Michael Lee's order to hand over an alleged recording between lawyer Leon Zwier and David Sharaz that purportedly took place during Brittany Higgins's testimony.
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Former colleague says Bruce Lehrmann gave her 'bad vibes' as defamation trial continues
By Patrick Bell
Senator Linda Reynolds's former staffer Nikita Irvine says "women's intuition" told her not to spend time with Bruce Lehrmann.
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Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins getting 'quite touchy' in club on night of alleged rape, witness tells court
By Patrick Bell and Elizabeth Byrne
Lauren Gain worked in the Department of Defence at the time of the alleged rape in March 2019 and has today given evidence to Bruce Lehrmann's defamation trial against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson.
Updated
Brittany Higgins's cross-examination in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation trial wraps up. Here's what happened
By Patrick Bell
After more than four days in the witness box, Brittany Higgins concludes her evidence to the Federal Court, in a defamation trial brought by Bruce Lehrmann against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.
Seven Network paying Bruce Lehrmann's rent at cost of $4,000 per fortnight, court documents reveal
By Patrick Bell
The exclusivity agreement and an invoice have been released by the Federal Court as part of Mr Lehrmann's defamation trial against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.
Brittany Higgins denies trying to 'blow-up' Bruce Lehrmann's re-trial over alleged rape as her evidence concludes
By Patrick Bell
While under cross-examination as part of Bruce Lehrmann's defamation action, Brittany Higgins says she "wasn't hiding from anyone" when a re-trial of his criminal case was abandoned, and was willing to go through a second criminal case.
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Analysis
analysis:Bruce Lehrmann's defamation action was set to be a re-run of his trial, but some key evidence is being revealed
By Elizabeth Byrne and Patrick Bell
Brittany Higgins's allegation she was raped by former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann in then-minister Linda Reynolds's office has had far-reaching consequences, and perhaps the most extraordinary part of the tale has been playing out in Federal Court this week.
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Brittany Higgins re-wore dress she was allegedly raped in to 'reclaim' it, court hears
By Patrick Bell and Lottie Twyford
Brittany Higgins tells the Federal Court she tried to "reclaim" the dress she alleges she was sexually assaulted in by wearing it at a Liberal Party function in the months afterwards.
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Brittany Higgins cries on stand as Bruce Lehrmann's lawyers suggest she made up rape allegation
By Patrick Bell
Brittany Higgins breaks down during cross-examination in the Federal Court, after labelling assertions by Bruce Lehrmann's lawyers that her alleged sexual assault was false as "insulting".
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Brittany Higgins details alleged rape as she takes the stand in Bruce Lehrmann's defamation action
By Patrick Bell
Brittany Higgins tells the Federal Court she was the most intoxicated she had ever been on the night in question.
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Bruce Lehrmann tells court he believes Brittany Higgins's fiance sent him threatening email titled 'Coming for you'
By Patrick Bell
Bruce Lehrmann has now been on the stand for four days being questioned about the night Brittany Higgins alleges she was raped and the media coverage which followed it.
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Bruce Lehrmann denies evading chief of staff's questions about night of Brittany Higgins's alleged rape
By Patrick Bell
The former Liberal staffer is facing a fourth day on the stand as part of his defamation trial against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.
Updated
'I was wrong': Bruce Lehrmann concedes he bought drinks for Brittany Higgins despite earlier saying he couldn't recall
By Patrick Bell
Bruce Lehrmann is suing Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson over coverage in which Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped in Parliament House in 2019.
Updated