Bruce Lehrmann expected to learn fate on Toowoomba rape charges

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann’s committal hearing over two rape charges resumes in a Queensland court on Thursday.

Former parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann leaves Toowoomba Magistrates Court in June. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann will not appear in ­person when the committal hearing over two rape charges resumes in a Queensland court on Thursday.

Mr Lehrmann, 29, is expected to learn tomorrow whether the charges will proceed to trial in his hometown of Toowoomba, two hours west of Brisbane.

His appearance at the Toowoomba Magistrates Court last month sparked a media frenzy, as it was the first time he had physically faced the court for the charges. Similar scenes are unlikely to be replicated tomorrow, as the law student is expected to appear via video link or phone after he was excused from attending in person because he lived interstate.

Mr Lehrmann’s lawyers lodged a 12-page submission of “some density” with the court following last month’s appearance, in which they argued the Queensland Police Service had no case, and the charges should be dismissed. He has not entered a plea.

The dual rape charges were laid in January 2023 by a woman who alleges she met Mr Lehrmann on a night out the October prior.

The woman, who cannot be identified, gave her evidence in closed court for about an hour last month after media outlets failed in a bid to be present in the courtroom for reasons of accuracy and public interest.

Mr Lehrmann was not initially named as the accused and had been given the moniker “high-profile man” due to Queensland laws that prevented a person charged with a sexual assault from being identified until they were committed to trial. The legislation was changed in October 2023.