Bruce Lehrmann to face Toowoomba Magistrates Court charged with rape of woman twice in 2021

A woman accusing Bruce Lehrmann of rape after a night out in Toowoomba has given evidence to a closed court, as a new delay has emerged in the former parliamentary staffer’s committal hearing.

Bruce Lehrmann’s committal hearing into his Toowoomba rape charges has been adjourned, with his legal team indicating they will make “no case to answer” submissions.

The Toowoomba courtroom was earlier closed as a woman prepared to give evidence over allegations she was raped by the former parliamentary staffer twice in 2021.

Police allege Lehrmann, 29, raped a woman twice after a night out while he was staying in his hometown in October 2021.

Bruce Lehrmann faces a media scrum as he arrives at court in Toowoomba. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Defence barrister Andrew Hoare this morning told the court that only one witness – the complainant – would be cross examined for the committal hearing.

He said “special witness measures” were in place, meaning the woman would give evidence remotely from a separate room.

“Entirely usual for a (rape complainant) … to give evidence that way,” Mr Hoare said.

Media outlets, including The Courier-Mail, applied to the court to be allowed to remain while the complainant gave evidence.

Stills taken from vision of reporter for The Australian, Liam Mendes approaching former Nine chairman Peter Costello at Canberra airport. Picture: Liam Mendes

Barrister Jess Goldie, for various news outlets, argued that allowing media to remain in the court would ensure the complainant’s evidence was reported fairly and accurately.

She said media outlets could listen from another room or remain obscured from the complainant’s view, adding the matter was one of high public interest nationally.

“The complainant’s identity will not be published,” Ms Goldie said.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said the complainant opposed the media remaining for her evidence – and therefore, so did the Crown.

“She wishes for her privacy to be maintained in the way any other complainant would have their privacy maintained,” she said.

The application was also opposed by Lehrmann’s barrister.

Magistrate Mark Howden dismissed the application from media outlets to remain in the court for, or listen in on, all or part of the complainant’s evidence.

He said it would be prejudicial to the interests of the complainant but noted the importance of open justice and the high public interest in the case.

Former parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann has arrived at Toowoomba Magistrates Court this morning to face a committal hearing after he was charged with raping a woman twice in 2021.

Lehrmann, who appeared relaxed throughout the hearing, was given leave to appear via video link from interstate when the hearing resumes on July 4.

Mr Hoare asked for the matter to be adjourned until a later date so they could argue the Crown does not have sufficient evidence for the charges to go to trial.

“As foreshadowed, there will be submissions made in respect of the sufficiency of the evidence to place my client on trial,” he said.

“Can I provide to the court for filing … an outline of submissions directed towards that issue.

“As has been noted, it’s 12 pages in length … there is some density to (it).”

Mr Hoare asked that his client be allowed to attend via video link rather than travel again to Toowoomba.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald at former parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann's trial at Toowoomba Magistrates Court. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

“He’s attended from interstate today and he’ll be in a position to be called upon. I understand there is no opposition to (his attendance via video link),” he said.

Magistrate Howden said he would allow that and agreed Lehrmann would remain on the same bail conditions.

He adjourned the hearing until July 4 for oral submissions to be made on the “no case submission”.

“It may well be the case that I need to then go and consider it,” he said.

“Which would mean that the matter would be adjourned to a further date.”

Lehrmann made no comment to media when leaving court and his car beeped at journalists as it drove by moments later.

Mr Lehrmann faced a huge media scrum when he arrived at Toowoomba Magistrates Court earlier this morning, quipping “where’s Peter Costello when you need him?” as he pushed through the media pack, referencing former treasurer and ex-chairman of Nine Entertainment, who stepped down from the role after a video was aired of an incident in which he appeared to shove a journalist at Canberra Airport on June 6.

Mr Lehrmann was previously excused from attending court in person however was required to be present today for committal hearing proceedings.

He is yet to enter any pleas but his legal team has indicated Mr Lehrmann will defend the charges.

In 2021 when Mr Lehrmann was initially charged he was only known as a “high profile man” however his identity was later revealed after Queensland legislation was changed to allow people accused of sexual offences to be identified before being committed to stand trial.

He then lost a subsequent bid to seek a non-publication order to protect his identity.

Originally published as Bruce Lehrmann to face Toowoomba Magistrates Court charged with rape of woman twice in 2021