Lehrmann’s lawyer ‘seriously ill’ with cancer

Bruce Lehrmann’s legal cases have had a spanner thrown into the works following a revelation about his current solicitor.

EXCLUSIVE

Bruce Lehrmann’s lawyer Zali Burrows has become “seriously ill” with cancer, a court has heard.

Ms Burrows, who is set to act for Mr Lehrmann in his appeal against findings in a defamation case that he raped colleague Brittany Higgins and separately for his rape trial in Toowoomba, took on his cases after his previous lawyers withdrew their services last year.

The revelation about Ms Burrows’ health came to light during her own legal proceedings in the NSW District Court last week.

She is suing prominent Sydney criminal lawyer Adam Houda for defamation over two posts he made on X.

Mr Houda was seeking dismissal of the proceedings on the grounds of “due dispatch” – that the case was being continually delayed by Ms Burrows.

Judge Judith Gibson told the court Ms Burrows had been “seriously ill for some years” with a particular form of cancer, which had recently required surgery and radiation.

Bruce Lehrmann and solicitor Zali Burrows in Hobart earlier this year. Picture: Elise Kaine

Judge Gibson told the court that Ms Burrows had recently become “too ill” as a result of the cancer to appear in person for the proceedings, which had caused delays in the case.

“The plaintiff’s health problems have taken a great toll not only on her physical health but in terms of her ability to get things done,” Judge Gibson said.

“While I accept that she has been conducting matters in other courts, including defamation proceedings in the Federal Court, that does not mean that she is necessarily giving her full and efficient attention to her own defamation action.”

Zali Burrows, lawyer for Bruce Lehrmann, pictured in October. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Judge Gibson said she recognised Ms Burrows had put her energy into Mr Lerhmann’s legal case instead of her own in light of her health problems.

“A saying that I recall used to be favoured by one of the more colourful members of the criminal bar, in times of crisis, was that “the cobbler’s children are the worst shod”,” she told the court.

“That appears likely here.”

Judge Gibson set down a four-day hearing for the case in September.

Ms Burrows has been contacted for comment by news.com.au.

Lawyer for Bruce Lehrmann, Zali Burrows, has been too sick to attend the proceedings in recent months, a court has heard. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Lehrmann’s Toowoomba case is due for a pre-trial directions hearing on March 27, while his appeal against his failed defamation case is not expected to be heard until August.

The former Liberal Party staffer is appealing the Federal Court’s April 2024 finding that – on the balance of probabilities – he did rape then-colleague Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.

The finding came as a result of Mr Lehrmann’s defamation case against Network Ten and Ms Wilkinson over an interview on The Project with Ms Higgins about her rape allegations.

Mr Lehrmann has denied both the Higgins findings, as well as the Toowoomba allegations.