Bruce Lehrmann: Trial date set for rape allegations
A trial date has been set for ex-federal ministerial staffer Bruce Lehrmann who has been charged with raping a woman he met at a regional nightclub.
Former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann has been set a trial date to face rape charges, more than five years after the alleged offences.
Lehrmann, 30, was not required to appear for a callover in Queensland District Court at Toowoomba when a trial date of November 2 was set by Judge Deborah Richards.
Defence solicitor Zali Burrows was asked if Lehrmann would seek a jury trial or a trial before a judge alone.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“It may be (before a jury). Mr Lehrmann is still deciding,” Ms Burrows said.
Lehrmann is accused of raping a woman twice during the morning of October 10, 2021 after a night out in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.
He was charged in January 2023 and committed in July 2024 to stand trial following hearings in Toowoomba Magistrates Court into the reliability of the alleged victim’s evidence.
Lehrmann and the woman met during the previous night at a Toowoomba strip club.
She told police she and Lehrmann discussed their political beliefs before catching a taxi to his friend’s house, having consensual sex and consuming cocaine about 4am.
The woman said she was woken about 10am by Lehrmann sexually assaulting her.
Lehrmann, who is on bail, has yet to formally enter a plea but previously indicated he would contest the charges.
Lehrmann previously worked in Canberra’s Parliament House for then Liberal senator and defence industry minister Linda Reynolds.
He sued Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for defamation over an interview with former colleague Brittany Higgins, who claimed Lehrmann raped her in a Parliament House office in 2019.
A criminal trial in the ACT on the charge of raping Ms Higgins was aborted in 2023 due to juror misconduct.
Lehrmann lost the defamation case after a Federal Court judge found in 2024, to the civil standard of proof, that he raped Ms Higgins.
The judge’s findings were upheld on appeal by the Full Federal Court in December.
Lehrmann has taken his case to the High Court in his third bid to win the defamation case.
If Lehrmann loses that bid, he could be forced into bankruptcy due to court orders he pay a $2 million legal bill to Ten.
The Toowoomba rape charges would need a pre-trial hearing before November concerning an application around a special witness, crown prosecutor Caroline Marco said.
A special witness status can be granted to vulnerable persons or alleged victims of sexual offences so that they can give evidence remotely or via a pre-recorded video.
Ms Burrows also sought an application for a ruling on evidence.
Judge Richards set down a pre-trial hearing for July 24 in Brisbane.
