The judge presiding over the Parliament House rape trial has told jurors to relax and stay calm after they asked for "a little extra time" to reach a verdict.
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"There's no rush. There's no time limit," Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said in the ACT Supreme Court on Monday, when the jury carried out its fourth day of deliberations in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann.
Lehrmann, 27, has been on trial since October 4, having pleaded not guilty to a charge of engaging in sexual intercourse without consent.
The former Liberal Party staffer denies any sexual activity with ex-colleague Brittany Higgins, who claims he raped her on a couch in the ministerial office of their boss at the time, Senator Linda Reynolds, in March 2019.
Prosecutor Shane Drumgold SC alleges Lehrmann sexually assaulted Ms Higgins when the pair went to Parliament House early on a Saturday morning, following what has been called "a drunken night out".
On Monday morning, the jury sent its first note to Chief Justice McCallum since retiring to deliberate about 3pm last Wednesday.
"We have not yet reached an agreement of beyond reasonable doubt," the note read.
"We ask the court to give us a little extra time to complete our deliberations. Could you please advise on time expectations?"
In response, Chief Justice McCallum said there was "no expectation" in terms of how long the jury should take.
The territory's top judge said she had presided over trials in which juries had taken significantly longer than the eight women and four men in this case had been deliberating so far.
"There's no pressure from anyone on you," Chief Justice McCallum told the jury.
"We'll hear from you when we hear from you.
"Relax. Stay as calm as you can. Take all the time you need."
The jury ultimately went home for the evening at 4pm on Monday, having spent the rest of the day deliberating without reaching a verdict.
MORE COVERAGE OF THE TRIAL:
- 'Extremely important' warnings given to jury as alleged parliament rapist waits for verdict
- Judge reminds jury she's 'here to help' as parliament rape trial deliberations continue
- Parliament rape trial jury retires to deliberate on '$325k question'
- 'Prepared to say anything': Defence claims Higgins 'doesn't know what happened'
- Higgins 'right to be scared' of 'strong political forces': prosecutor
- Senator accused of trying to 'coach' defence barrister's cross-examination of Higgins
- 'Political suicide': Senator denies pretending not to know about alleged rape
- 'Nothing was fine after what you did': Higgins confronts alleged rapist, denies being 'monster'
- Lehrmann 'in a hurry to get out' after alleged rape: parliament security
- 'My world has been rocked': Lehrmann tells police of 'Bruce the rapist' impersonator
- 'Broken, shattered person': Light in Higgins 'turned off' after alleged rape
- 'Bruce got quite handsy': What Higgins told parliament police after alleged rape
- Higgins 'unavailable' to continue cross-examination in rape trial, jury told
- Higgins had planned book before being 'blown away' by $325k offer, court hears
- 'So incorrect': Higgins hits back at 'deeply insulting' cross-examination
- 'I wanted her out': Higgins denies attempt to hide evidence, admits 'scrubbing' phone
- Higgins secretly recorded 'weirdest phone call' with Cash after quitting
- 'It may sound ridiculous': Higgins admits 'mistake' about 'weird anchor' dress
- Meeting with minister at site of alleged rape felt like 'scare tactic': Higgins
- 'Like this weird anchor': Higgins kept dress under bed while weighing up action
- Higgins 'rebuffed kiss' from accused rapist before allegedly being 'trapped'
- Public 'sold a pup' with 'unstoppable snowball' story of alleged Higgins rape
