An ex-aide de camp working in parliament at the time of the alleged sexual assault also said she got “bad vibes” from Lehrmann while he was her colleague and did not want to spend time with him.

This evidence was given as the defamation trial by Lehrmann against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over a report on the Higgins’ allegation continues in the Federal Court.

The ex-Liberal staffer denies that any sexual contact or intimacy occurred between himself and Ms Higgins.

Nikola Anderson was working as a security guard about 1.30am on March 23, 2019 when she escorted Ms Higgins and Lehrmann to the office of Senator Linda Reynolds.

Ms Anderson told the court on Thursday that she conducted a welfare check about 4.30am after Ms Higgins failed to come out of the suite.

In an affidavit filed in the case, she said Ms Higgins was naked on the minister’s couch and had opened her eyes to look at her.

“She rolled over into the fetal position and faced the desk, the minister’s desk,” she told the court.

Ms Higgins’ dress and shoes were on the floor next to the lounge, her makeup appeared to be intact and she did not appear to be in any distress, Ms Anderson said.

Mark Fairweather, the other security guard who signed Lehrmann and Ms Higgins into Parliament House, said the pair did not seem to be too drunk going through the metal detectors.

“I would have refused entry if I believed they were heavily intoxicated,” he told Justice Michael Lee.

Mr Fairweather said when Lehrmann left later on, he was walking hastily while looking down at his phone.

Major Nikita Irvine worked as Senator Reynolds’ aide de camp around the time of the alleged rape and told the court she got “bad vibes” from Lehrmann.

“When I started at that office, I had bad vibes on Bruce and his future,” she said.

When Ten’s barrister Matthew Collins KC asked what she meant, Maj Irvine could not give a precise answer.

“It’s women’s intuition, Dr Collins. I’m sorry, I just didn’t want to spend time with him.”

Maj Irvine said Ms Higgins had disclosed to her about the claimed sexual assault days after the alleged event and the pair had discussed the matter further four more times over the following weeks.

Lehrmann is suing over a February 2021 report on The Project where Ms Higgins was interviewed regarding the allegation she was raped.

The law student has already had $445,000 in legal bills covered under two defamation settlements with News.com.au and the ABC over their media reports airing MsHiggins’ rape allegations.

Lehrmann was charged in August 2021 over the alleged rape, but his criminal trial in the ACT Supreme Court was derailed by juror misconduct.

Prosecutors did not seek a second trial, citing concerns for Ms Higgins’ mental health.

Lehrmann is also before Queensland courts accused of raping another woman twice in Toowoomba in October 2021.

He has not yet entered a plea, but his lawyers have indicated he denies the charges.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028