The trial of the man accused of sexually assaulting former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has been delayed after television host Lisa Wilkinson praised Higgins in her acceptance speech at an Australian TV award.
Australian Captial Territory Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucy McCallum on Tuesday said the “extreme” media attention around the matter would undermine a fair trial and has forced her to set back the trial date of June 27 “regrettably and with gritted teeth.”
The ACT Chief Justice told the ACT Supreme Court that despite having received a “clear and appropriate warning” prior to the TV awards ceremony, Wilkinson proceeded to deliver an acceptance speech that “openly referred to and praised the complainant in the present trial.”…