Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has misplaced an utility for an interim restraining order towards a Every day Mail journalist he alleges stalked him.
Lehrmann has launched authorized motion within the Hobart magistrates courtroom towards Karleigh Smith, a senior reporter on the Mail who relies in New South Wales.
A narrative with the heading “We discovered the despised get together boy hiding on the finish of the Earth” about Lehrmann dwelling in Tasmania was revealed by Every day Mail Australia on 1 July with Smith’s byline.
He has utilized for a restraining order towards the reporter, partly on the grounds she allegedly stalked him.
The matter has been set down for a listening to in November, with Lehrmann’s utility for an interim restraining order rejected by the Justice of the Peace, Marica Duvnjak, on Tuesday.
Lehrmann’s lawyer, Zali Burrows, informed the courtroom Smith and a photographer adopted her shopper in a automobile, together with on a mud highway, “dangerously” and outdoors the same old course of her occupation.
Burrows mentioned the order was sought resulting from “not simply stalking” but in addition due to the impact on Lehrmann’s psychological well being which had been exacerbated by the incident.
“Why is a journalist sitting in a automobile following an individual intently behind? That probably may have brought on an accident,” she mentioned.
Smith’s lawyer, Nic Edmondson, opposed the interim order, noting there was a journalistic exemption underneath the authorized definition of stalking.
“[Smith] has solely visited Tasmania as soon as in her life to report and it was on that go to she reported on Mr Lehrmann,” Edmondson mentioned.
She was entitled to observe Lehrmann and take images and report on him, he mentioned.
“I make some extent, he’s properly reported within the media,” Edmondson mentioned.
Burrows mentioned an interim order stopping Smith from threatening, harassing or abusing Lehrmann would no less than present him with “some consolation”.
Duvnjak was not happy an interim order was applicable, mentioning Smith had not returned to Tasmania for the reason that story.
Lehrmann has made a report about Smith by way of “official channels”, Burrows informed the courtroom.
Burrows mentioned Lehrmann had suffered psychological hurt as a result of Smith had seemingly intentionally engaged a NSW authorized agency beforehand utilized by him.
This raised “severe battle issues” because the agency, Mark O’Brien Authorized, had confidential details about Lehrmann corresponding to the place he lived in Tasmania, Burrows mentioned.
Lehrmann was not current in courtroom on Tuesday however is predicted to offer proof on the slated listening to.
