Bruce Lehrmann accuses ACT prosecutor of professional misconduct

“I contend that his conduct was driven by malice towards me personally. I also consider that his conduct was political,” Lehrmann wrote.

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“I take the view that the director’s behaviour was consistent with a legal practitioner who was acting in the interests of a particular person, bolstered by political interests on the part of the director, and possible third-party political interference, rather than the overall interests of justice.”

Lehrmann said while he was living in Tasmania at the time to be out of the media spotlight, he would readily travel to Canberra to discuss the allegations with the ACT bar president in more detail.

Comment has been sought from Drumgold’s office and the bar association.

The ACT government announced on December 21 it would conduct an inquiry into the abandoned rape trial following ructions between the DPP and police. The AFP called for a separate probe after Drumgold’s letter was revealed by a freedom-of-information request.

Former Queensland solicitor-general and Court of Appeal president Walter Sofronoff KC has been appointed to head the inquiry.

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ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said on Wednesday the inquiry would have the scope to investigate allegations of political influence in the case against Lehrmann.

Rattenbury previously described Drumgold’s complaint as a “very serious allegation” and said the terms of reference for the inquiry would encompass that issue.

“I hope that this matter does not affect that broader relationship, but that is part of the reason we are establishing this inquiry, to ensure that where those allegations and these fracture points have been aired, there is an independent forum to investigate them and then draw conclusions,” he said.

After the sudden halt of the first trial, Higgins spoke to media outside the ACT Supreme Court, describing the justice system as “asymmetrical” and stating that she felt as though she, not Lehrmann, had been the one on trial.

In announcing the abandonment of the retrial in December, Drumgold said, “during the investigation and trial as a sexual assault complainant, [Brittany] Higgins has faced a level of personal attack that I have not seen in over 20 years of doing this work”.

“She has done so with bravery, grace and dignity and it is my hope that this will now stop and Ms Higgins will be allowed to heal,” he said.

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