Ah, my apologies, I need to read reports properly!
You're right, the bulletin doesn't say (and my error was saying the report stating that pilot made manual control inputs to turn away to a new heading after discontinuing the approach.....re-reading it actually doesn't say the pilot used the control column to initiate roll/heading change).
Further re-reading it, it implies it is more in line with what Basil said, they probably left it on AP and used it to change heading after discontinuing approach....this is implied by the event straight after the aircraft just completed the roll out and the almost-immediately-after lightning strike with the commander announcing that "he had control". This means he probably didn't have his hands on the control column prior to the lightning strike but he was effectively announcing he now had his hands down to it.