A judge has said he would set a provisional trial date of July 26 for Bruce Lehrmann's rape trial in Toowoomba, warning his lawyer and the prosecutor against further delays in the long-running case.
The trial was due to start on Monday, but the date was abandoned in late October after Lehrmann's solicitor Zali Burrows told Brisbane District Court Judge David Kent her client could not secure a barrister.
Lehrmann, 31, was charged in January 2023 and committed to stand trial in July 2024 over allegations he twice raped a woman at a house in regional Queensland in 2021. He has yet to enter a plea but has said through his solicitor he will contest the charges.
On Monday, Judge Dennis Lynch in Toowoomba District Court said he would set a provisional trial start date of July 26. "This matter now has a long history and it needs to progress," Lynch said. He told Burrows to inform the court and prosecutor Caroline Marco of the barrister's name as soon as possible, adding "Ms Burrows, it really is now that the ball is in your court to engage counsel."
Lynch said he would issue a formal order on the trial start date on Tuesday unless Marco raised a problem with witness availability. Lehrmann was not required to appear and his bail was continued.
The woman told police she and Lehrmann met at a strip club, discussed their political beliefs, and caught a taxi to his friend's house, where they had consensual sex and consumed cocaine. She said she was woken about 10am by Lehrmann sexually assaulting her.
In a separate civil case, the Federal Court on Monday ruled against Lehrmann over his handwritten diary, held by the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The commission had investigated whether Lehrmann, a former staffer to then-defence minister Linda Reynolds, misused official information on French submarines. The probe has been dropped, but Justice Brigitte Markovic granted a public interest immunity claim preventing the return of at least two diary pages containing confidential cabinet information. Lehrmann submitted he never attended a cabinet meeting at the relevant time and the information was at best second-hand. The diary was ordered returned to the commission.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The trial involves serious sexual assault allegations against a former political staffer, with implications for how such cases are handled in the justice system.
- The judge's warning underscores concerns about delays in the court process, which can affect both the accused and the alleged victim.
- The separate diary case raises questions about national security and the use of official information, highlighting the intersection of politics and legal accountability.
Background
Lehrmann was a staffer to then-defence minister Linda Reynolds. The National Anti-Corruption Commission investigated him for allegedly misusing official information on French submarines, but the probe has been dropped. The civil case over his diary involves claims of public interest immunity over cabinet confidentiality.
What to Watch
- The formal order on the trial date expected on Tuesday, which may depend on witness availability.
- Whether Lehrmann secures a barrister in time for the July trial.
- Any developments in the diary case, particularly regarding the return of the pages.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA judge said he would set a provisional July 26 trial date for Lehrmann’s rape trial in Toowoomba.The Age - Latest News: “On Monday, Judge Dennis Lynch in Toowoomba District Court said he would set a provisional trial start date of July 26.”
- SupportedThe judge warned Lehrmann’s lawyer and the prosecutor against further delays.The Age - Latest News: “A judge has warned political staffer Bruce Lehrmann’s lawyer and a prosecutor against further delays”
- SupportedThe trial had been due to start on Monday, but its date was abandoned in late October after Lehrmann’s solicitor said he could not secure a barrister.The Age - Latest News: “The date was abandoned in late October after Lehrmann’s solicitor Zali Burrows told Brisbane District Court Judge David Kent her client had been unable to secure a barrister to represent him at trial.”
- SupportedJudge Lynch said, “This matter now has a long history and it needs to progress.”The Age - Latest News: ““This matter now has a long history and it needs to progress,” Lynch said.”
- SupportedJudge Lynch told Burrows, “Ms Burrows, it really is now that the ball is in your court to engage counsel.”The Age - Latest News: ““Ms Burrows, it really is now that the ball is in your court to engage counsel,” Lynch said.”
- SupportedLehrmann was charged in January 2023 and committed to stand trial in July 2024 over allegations he twice raped a woman at a house in regional Queensland in 2021.The Age - Latest News: “Lehrmann 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.”
- SupportedLehrmann had not entered a plea and had said through his solicitor that he would contest the charges.The Age - Latest News: “He has yet to enter a plea but has previously said via his solicitor he will contest the charges”
- Partly supportedThe woman told police that she and Lehrmann met at a strip club.The Age - Latest News: “Lehrmann and the woman met the night prior at a Toowoomba strip club. She told police she and Lehrmann discussed their political beliefs before catching a taxi to his friend’s house”
- SupportedThe Federal Court ruled against Lehrmann on Monday over his handwritten diary, which was held by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.The Age - Latest News: “In a separate, civil case, the Federal Court ruled against Lehrmann on Monday over his handwritten diary, held by the National Anti-Corruption Commission.”
- SupportedThe commission had investigated whether Lehrmann, a former staffer to then-defence minister Linda Reynolds, misused official information on French submarines, and had dropped the probe.The Age - Latest News: “The commission had been investigating whether Lehrmann, a former staffer to then-defence minister Linda Reynolds, misused official information on French submarines. The commission has dropped the probe against him”
- SupportedJustice Markovic granted a public interest immunity claim preventing at least two diary pages from being returned because they contained confidential cabinet information.The Age - Latest News: “Justice Brigitte Markovic on Monday granted a public interest immunity claim that prevents at least two of the pages being returned on the grounds they contained confidential information on a ministerial cabinet’s consideration of a topic and costings.”
- SupportedMarkovic ordered the diary returned to the commission.The Age - Latest News: “Markovic ordered the diary be returned to the commission.”