Brittany Higgins rape case: Bruce Lehrmann to face trial next year
The man accused of sexually assaulting Brittany Higgins in Parliament House has had a ‘tentative’ trial date set.
The man charged with sexually assaulting Brittany Higgins at Parliament House has had a “tentative” trial date set for June next year.
Queensland man Bruce Lehrmann was committed to stand trial earlier this month on the charge of sexual intercourse without consent, while being reckless as to whether Ms Higgins had consented.
At a directions hearing at the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday, registrar Jayne Rees set a “tentative” date for the trial to begin on June 6.
“I’ll give the parties the ability to relist if there’s any difficulty with those dates,” Ms Rees said.
The court heard that the trial could run for three to four weeks, with the prosecution’s evidence to take about two weeks.
ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC, who appeared via video link, told the court that they were “largely ready to go”.
He said he believed it was “highly unlikely” the matter would settle in a criminal case conference and “we’re just looking for a trial date”.
“I think we agree that there’s not a lot of benefit in sending it to criminal case conferencing,” he said.
But Ms Rees said case conferences were listed for “all matters” and scheduled for the parties to meet in February.
Mr Lehrmann’s solicitor, Warwick Korn, who also appeared remotely, told the court that they were still working through some of the material when asked if there would be any pre-trial applications.
“There were some matters served recently we still need to get across,” he said.
Ms Higgins came forward in February this year alleging she had been assaulted in the office of then Defence Minister Linda Reynolds on March 23, 2019.
Mr Lehrmann and Ms Higgins both worked for Senator Reynolds at the time.
He denies the claim and has pleaded not guilty.
The matter was adjourned for another directions hearing on December 16.
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