The rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann will finish sooner than we thought

The trial of Bruce Lehrmann is now expected to conclude at the end of next week, with Brittany Higgins expected to return to the witness box on Friday. 

This is why we haven't heard much from court this week.

The trial of Bruce Lehrmann, accused of raping Brittany Higgins, is now expected to conclude at the end of next week.

The trial was originally slated to run for four to six weeks in the ACT Supreme Court but is now anticipated to run for three. 

Higgins is expected to return to the witness box for the high-profile rape trial on Friday. 

Cross examination of Higgins by defence barrister Steven Whybrow is scheduled to resume at 10am on day nine of the trial.

The 27-year-old’s cross examination commenced last week but was suspended on Monday after the court was told Higgins was unavailable. 

On Wednesday the court heard the former Liberal staffer’s evidence is expected to be completed by 1pm on Friday. 

Crown prosecutor Shane Drumgold confirmed the new timetable at the start of proceedings on Wednesday but the schedule could not be reported until the jury was told just before noon.

“The Prosecutor indicated this morning that Ms Higgins’ evidence will resume on Friday,” Chief Justice Lucy McCallum told the jury.

The hearing has continued and the court has been hearing evidence from key witnesses during Higgins’ absence this week but there is a non-publication order on all of that evidence.

So we here at The Oz and other media outlets cannot report on it until the suppression order lifts when Higgins completes her cross-examination.

Higgins has accused Lehrmann of raping her inside a ministerial office at Parliament House in the early hours of March 23, 2019.

She alleged the assault occurred in the office of their boss at the time, then-defence industry minister Linda Reynolds, after a night out drinking with colleagues in Canberra shortly before the 2019 election.

Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent.

The Oz will bring you live updates from court on Friday.