Lawyer’s latest move in Bruce Lehrmann rape case revealed

Bruce Lehrmann’s legal team’s next move was revealed in court as an integral hearing to move his rape case forward was postponed, parties quarrelled over evidence, and allegations were made that the alleged victim had liaised with a compensation lawyer.

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

Within weeks Bruce Emery Lehrmann was set to attend a pre-trial hearing for the alleged rape of a Toowoomba woman in 2021, however it was delayed because the former parliamentary staffer’s new lawyer wasn’t ready to proceed.

When Mr Lehrmann’s rape case was mentioned before the Toowoomba District Court on Thursday, March 13, his new lawyer, high-profile criminal lawyer Zali Burrows appeared on his behalf.

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

Judge Dennis Lynch KC asked Ms Burrows what was happening with the pre-trial hearing which was supposed to begin on March 27, 2025.

“Are the parties ready to have the application dealt with that day?” He asked.

Ms Burrows said Mr Lehrmann instructed her to make an application to cancel the pre-trial hearing.

“The basis… is one, I’m new on the record and need to get across the brief (of evidence),” she said.

The second issue Ms Burrows raised with the court was technical issues she had accessing all the files on the digital brief that she was provided with by his former lawyers.

She said the prosecution wouldn’t send her a new copy and told her to retrieve the information from RK Law, who had withdrawn from the record.

“It would take a better course if the prosecution takes the USB from the former solicitor which contains the entire brief and then ensures I’m given a complete consolidated brief,” she said.

“I’m concerned because I’m instructed there is a third statement which has been provided by the (alleged victim) but the brief I have, I only have two statements.”

Bruce Lehrmann and solicitor Zali Burrows. Picture: Elise Kaine

She asked Judge Lynch to make a formal direction to the office of prosecutions and was quickly cut off before finishing her request.

“I’m not going to make any directions,” Judge Lynch said.

“That’s a matter for the parties to sort out.”

Given the defence was not ready to proceed with the pre-trial hearing in two weeks, Judge Lynch asked the prosecutor Caroline Marco if she was happy to cancel that proceeding and mention the matter on April 24.

Ms Marco offered an alternative course of action, noting the matter could be mentioned on March 27 for Ms Burrows to update the court on her progress.

Judge Lynch told the court he was “not interested in hearing or referring some dispute between the parties about the provision of material”.

“That’s for the parties to sort out,” he said.

“If there’s to be an application by one side or the other, you can come and tell me about it.”

Judge Dennis Lynch KC adjourned Bruce Lehrmann’s rape case to next be mentioned in court in April 2025.

Judge Lynch said he would list the matter to be mentioned before the Toowoomba District Court on April 24.

“By then, I expect all those things to be resolved, and the parties are in a position to tell me what application there will be. I will allocate a hearing date.”

Before the matter was adjourned, Ms Burrows said on March 27 she had a returnable subpoena.

“That’s in respect to a subpoena to a compensation lawyer that the (alleged victim) had seen,” she said.

Judge Lynch told Ms Burrows that when the material for the subpoena was returned to the court, if wouldn’t need to deal with the matter in an open court.

“If the parties are in agreement, you can present a draft order, and I will be happy to make an order in Chambers if it’s just simply to give the parties leave to inspect the copy,” he said.

Judge Lynch formally vacated the pre-trial hearing and listed Lehrmann’s matter to be mentioned on Thursday, April 24.

Mr Lehrmann’s appearance was excused from attending court, and his bail was enlarged.