Committal hearing set down for Bruce Lehrmann’s rape case in Toowoomba

The lawyer representing ex-parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann will cross-examine witnesses as the 28-year-old faces two counts of rape.

The barrister representing former parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann, who is facing rape charges in Toowoomba, will be able to cross-examine witnesses in the case against his client, a court has been told.

Police charged the 28-year-old with two counts of rape over an alleged incident in Toowoomba in October 2021.

Bruce Lehrmann is facing rape charges in Toowoomba. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

He is yet to enter a plea but has indicated he will defend the charges.

Mr Lehrmann’s barrister, Patrick Wilson, told Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday that both parties had come to an “agreement about the scope” of the cross-examination of witnesses planned for a committal hearing on June 17.

Mr Wilson also told the court the Crown had agreed to “provide particulars” before the committal hearing.

Mr Lehrmann was not required to attend court on Monday and his bail was continued.

The Toowoomba Courthouse was told a directions hearing would be set on June 17. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

The criminal charges in Toowoomba are not related to the incident at the centre of a separate civil defamation trial involving Mr Lehrmann in the Federal Court in Sydney.

Last year, Mr Lehrmann’s identity was revealed after Queensland legislation was changed so that those accused of rape or sexual assault could now be named before they were committed for trial or entered a plea.

Previously, Mr Lehrmann was only known as a “high-profile man” in all media reporting.

After the law changed, he lost his bid to seek a non-publication order to continue to keep his name from public view.

Originally published as Committal hearing set down for Bruce Lehrmann’s rape case in Toowoomba