Bruce Lehrmann: Rape charges against high profile man mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court

The case against Bruce Lehrmann, who has been charged with two counts of rape in Toowoomba, has been mentioned in court with his lawyer flagging his intention to apply for a pre-trial hearing.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos December 12, 2023: Bruce Lehrmann. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

The rape charges against Bruce Lehrmann have returned to Toowoomba Magistrates Court, with his lawyer flagging his intentions to apply for a pre-trial committal hearing.

Mr Lehrmann, who has indicated he will defend the charges, was not required to be in court when his two charges of rape were mentioned on Wednesday, December 13.

He was represented by barrister Mr PJ Wilson, who appeared by phone.

Mr Wilson asked the court for directions as the defence intended to apply to the prosecution seeking a pre-trial committal hearing with cross examination of witnesses.

Magistrate Louise Shephard directed the defence to serve the prosecution with the relevant paperwork by January 10 with the prosecution to respond to that application by January 17.

If the application was not agreed to by the prosecution the matter would then go to a directions hearing back in the same court.

Mr Lehrmann has not as yet been required to enter any pleas to the charges which arise from alleged events dating to October 2021.

Mr Lehrmann remains on bail.

The criminal proceedings in Toowoomba relate to a matter that is entirely separate to the civil defamation trial involving Mr Lehrmann that is currently taking place in the Federal Court in Sydney.

Originally published as Bruce Lehrmann: Rape charges against high profile man mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court