Bruce Lehrmann faces motor vehicle stealing charge in Tasmania

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has faced a Tasmanian court accused of stealing a silver Toyota Prado.

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann allegedly did not know the owner of a silver Toyota Prado he is accused of stealing in Tasmania, news.com.au understands.

Mr Lehrmann appeared before Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday morning on a charge of motor vehicle stealing.

Mr Lehrmann and his Sydney lawyer Zali Burrows appeared via phone link before Magistrate Reg Marron.

The court heard the 29-year-old was alleged to have stolen a car from Mountain River – about 30km from Hobart CBD – on November 20.

Former federal government staffer Bruce Lehrmann has faced court charged with allegedly stealing a Toyota Prado. Picture: Liam Mendes

Court documents reveal the charges were brought in relation to a silver Toyota Prado.

Mr Lehrmann has not enter a plea and his matter was adjourned until June 19.

In a statement to news.com.au the state’s Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management said Mr Lehrmann was arrested in December.

“A 29-year-old man has been charged with motor vehicle stealing in relation to a matter at Mountain River on 20 November 2024,” it said.

“He was arrested, charged ... on 2 December 2024.”

Sources privy to the incident told The Daily Telegraph that Mr Lehrmann was part of a community working bee on a property owned by the complainant’s neighbour and had “borrowed” the car for half a day with permission, supposedly returning it with a full tank of fuel.

However, news.com.au understands the complainant ‘didn’t know’ who Mr Lehrmann was.

Ms Burrows has been contacted for comment.

It is unclear what the year and model was of the allegedly stolen Prado. A new Toyota Prado can sell for around $100,000.

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

Law student and former federal government adviser Mr Lehrmann was last year found by a Federal Court judge in a defamation case to have raped his one-time colleague Brittany Higgins in March 2019.

The court was told he sexually assaulted the woman after a night out in Canberra, with the incident taking place inside their boss former senator Linda Reynolds’s office.

Justice Michael Lee found the allegations were proven to the civil standard, which is the balance of probabilities.

Mr Lehrmann maintains his innocence and has launched an appeal against the judgment, which came in a defamation case he had brought against Channel 10.

Separate criminal proceedings in the ACT ended with no findings against Mr Lehrmann after a jury was discharged for misconduct.

Prosecutors did not seek a second trial, citing concern over Ms Higgins’ mental health and the charge against Mr Lehrmann was dropped.

Mr Lehrmann worked for Linda Reynolds. Picture: Don Arnold/Getty Images

It was reported in 2023 that Mr Lehrmann was living in Tasmania and working picking grapes at a winery in the Apple Isle’s hinterland.

Mr Lehrmann and his solicitor Ms Burrows were pictured in Hobart together in October 2024.

Two years ago, Mr Lehrmann told The Australian’s Janet Albrechtsen that he was studying law and had completed his first criminal law exam.

“I’m hellbent on, you know, I don’t want to stuff around being a solicitor, I want to get there to the Bar and be a barrister and help some of these people out there who have been done over the system,” he said.

“And the more I’m learning about being a lawyer and then putting that in context with what I’ve been through, the more infuriated I am at the grave sort of smashing and assault on principles of our legal system.

“There’s so many aspects legally speaking that lawyers fundamentally, if they go back to their learnings in law school, they should be absolutely climbing the wall and be outraged.”

Originally published as Bruce Lehrmann faces motor vehicle stealing charge in Tasmania