Lehrmann’s bid to have Queensland rape case thrown out to be heard within weeks
By Cloe Read
A judge has ordered that Bruce Lehrmann’s bid to have his Queensland rape case thrown out be heard in court in a matter of weeks, amid claims his previous lawyer’s phone calls were obtained illegally.
The former federal Liberal Party staffer is accused of raping a woman he met at a Toowoomba nightclub on a drug-fuelled night in 2021. He was committed to stand trial last year.
Lehrmann’s new team is now pushing to have the case thrown out of court, with defence lawyer Zali Burrows filing an application for a permanent stay of the proceedings.
Zali Burrows and Bruce Lehrmann. Credit: Edwina Pickles / Kate Geraghty
The application, filed this week, included claims that intercepted phone calls between Lehrmann’s lawyers and Queensland police were obtained illegally.
The application came after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions filed an affidavit in the case last week, saying prosecutors had contacted the arresting officer, Detective Senior Constable Ashlee Ryder, recently regarding disclosure of evidence.
The affidavit says Ryder replied to the email, and outlined items in her possession that were not provided as part of the brief to the prosecutor’s office. The items included audio recordings between Ryder and the complainant, and an audio recording between a witness and the officer, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit also says Ryder confirmed all signed statements had been provided, and that she was “not in possession of anything that may be reasonably considered to be adverse to the reliability or credibility of a proposed witness for the prosecution”.
Burrows pushed for the matter to go before Judge Dennis Lynch KC in the Ipswich District Court on Wednesday morning. The case is usually held in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.
Appearing over the phone, Burrows told the court Lehrmann had also dialled in to hear the proceedings.
She began by saying Lehrmann wanted to thank Lynch.
Lynch interjected: “Just before you go on, I’ve seen the application and the communication, I’m sure the parties understand why we’re here.”
Lynch asked the prosecution why Lehrmann’s new application could not be heard at the scheduled disclosure date next month.
Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Caroline Marco said there was no reason, but dates should be set for filing of outlines.
Burrows said she was also seeking a timetable for filing evidence.
Lynch ordered Lehrmann’s team to file all material in the application by July 14, while the prosecution would be required to file by July 21.
Lehrmann’s application to stay the proceedings will be heard on July 25.
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