Lisa Wilkinson's lawyer takes on Bruce Lehrmann for the first time - as he reveals cocaine-fuelled all-nighter after Project interview and texts come to light

Lisa Wilkinson's barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, has fought to detail the value of Bruce Lehrmann's settlements with the ABC and News Life Media.

The barrister for News Life Media, a section of News Corp that runs news.com.au, argued those details are confidential and should not be the subject of cross-examination.

Ms Chrysanthou has asked for access to the two confidential legal settlements Lehrmann reached with News Corp and the ABC before the proceedings with Network Ten began.

Justice Michael Lee agreed to her request for access to the settlements.

Network Ten's barrister Matthew Collins KC finished cross-examining Bruce Lehrmann in the Federal Court on Tuesday morning.

His final questions were about a series of articles that identified Mr Lehrmann as Brittany Higgins' alleged rapist in the week after her rape claims were first published on news.com.au, and on The Project.

Those articles were published on True Crime Weekly and the Kangaroo Court of Australia websites.

Mr Lehrmann agreed both publications contained details about him that were not used in either the original news article or television broadcast.

Lisa Wilkinson's barrister, Sue Chrysanthou SC, will now cross-examine Mr Lehrmann.

Bruce Lehrmann's fourth day of cross-examination by Network Ten's barrister Matthew Collins KC began on Tuesday with questions about his actions after The Project aired, on February 15, 2021.

The Federal Court heard on Monday he watched the episode from his former criminal lawyer's office, before he started consuming cocaine.

On Tuesday, Dr Collins asked Mr Lehrmann when he went to bed that night.

Mr Lehrmann couldn't precisely recall, but said he went to bed at some stage.

Mr Lehrmann: 'I went home.'

Dr Collins: 'And?'

Mr Lehrmann: 'And my friends came over,'

Dr Collins: 'And?'

Mr Lehrmann: 'I had some drinks.'

Mr Lehrmann said he was in a 'bad mental way' that night, and said he hardly slept, but couldn't recall what time he went to bed.

Dr Collins then took Mr Lehrmann to his phone records.

They showed He texted an individual on his phone called 'backup guy'.

'Was that a drug dealer?' Dr Collins asked.

'Yes,’ Mr Lehrmann replied.

The last message was sent from Mr Lehrmann to some friends at 6.30am in the morning on February 16, 2021. It read: 'I have headed home gentlemen, stay safe.'

Dr Collins then asked: 'You stayed up all night on the 15th of February, didn't you?'

Mr Lehrmann replied: 'It appears that way, yes.'

When asked why he said in his affidavit that he went out with friends that night, before going home to sleep, he told the court: 'My recollection is that I went home at some point - I didn't recall going out again or coming home.'

Later on February 16, 2021, Mr Lehrmann checked himself into Royal North Shore Hospital and said he was having thoughts of suicide.

Bruce Lehrmann has been captured on video singing his own version of the 1979 hit by The Clash, 'I fought the law' while sitting on a kitchen stool with a tumbler of red wine.

Mr Lehrmann changed the lyrics to, 'I fought the law and … Bruce won!'.

He sang while tapping his feet and motioning to the camera.

The metadata of the clip, published by News Corp, indicates it was filmed on the NSW Central Coast at the beginning of October.

Less than a year earlier, Mr Lehrmann's rape trial was abandoned after a jury member brought prohibited reading material into the courtroom.

A second trial had been planned to go ahead in early 2022, but it was also abandoned due to fears for his accuser Brittany Higgins' mental health.

Mr Lehrmann pleaded not guilty in the first trial and has always denied raping her in 2019.

On Monday, he was grilled in Federal Court on the witness box for a fourth day as he takes legal action against Network Ten and former Project host Lisa Wilkinson.

He will take the stand again on Tuesday.

Bruce Lehrmann appears to have lost two close friends, John McGowan and Harry Hughes.

The revelation was made in the Federal Court on Monday, when Mr Lehrmann was under cross-examination by Network Ten's barrister Matthew Collins KC.

Dr Collins was asking about a series of WhatsApp messages he received on February 15, 2021 - the day Brittany Higgins' rape allegations against him were published for the first time.

Mr Lehrmann has continually denied raping Ms Higgins.

That morning, Mr Hughes - who is former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull's nephew - asked Mr Lehrmann: 'Know this chick?'

Mr Lehrmann replied: 'Yeah worked with her briefly. (She) was at team drinks etc.'

When asked to describe his relationship with Mr Hughes, the former Liberal staffer told the court he used to be a friend but wasn't anymore.

The reason behind the relationship breakdown is unclear, but it appears to have transpired within the last six months.

In May, the pair were pictured laughing together during a long lunch at Bondi Trattoria.

At one stage, Mr Lehrmann put his arm around Mr Hughes as they left the venue.

On Monday, the court also heard Mr Lehrmann was no longer friends with political operative John McGowan.

On February 15, 2021, Mr McGowan sent him a WhatsApp message to try and determine who Ms Higgins' alleged rapist was.

Mr McGowan asked: 'You got any (gossip) on who the Canberra rape guy is, the yarn says ‘rising star’ so that rules out our mates but who else?'

Mr Lehrmann replied: 'No idea mate in the slightest … I haven’t been approached.'

Dr Collins asked whether Mr McGowan was a friend or media advisor.

Mr Lehrmann said he was more of a friend, but explained he did not consider the political operative to be a friend 'anymore'.

Bruce Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Network 10 in the Federal Court over her 2021 interview with Brittany Higgins on The Project, during which she publicly alleged for the first time that he raped her in Parliament House in 2019.

While he was not named, he claims friends and former colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.

He has continually maintained his innocence.

The hearing began last Wednesday. Mr Lehrmann's cross-examination began on Thursday and will continue on Tuesday.