Bruce Lehrmann's legal team reveals surprise witness in Toowoomba case

Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann’s legal team has moved to delay a long-awaited court hearing set for this Friday after a potential new witness came to light.

Former parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann (centre) leaves Toowoomba Magistrates Court in 2024. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

A surprise potential witness has come forward in the Toowoomba rape trial against former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann.

Mr Lehrmann’s legal team appeared via phone before Toowoomba District Court on Wednesday afternoon seeking an further adjournment for multiple court applications set to be heard on Friday, July 25.

Mr Lehrmann’s solicitor Zali Burrows told the court she needed an extension on the already delayed hearing after she became aware of a potential new witness whom, she claimed, police did not disclose.

“One of the things that has recently come to our attention was that a witness was recently approached by Queensland Police this year and it hasn’t been disclosed,” Ms Burrows said.

“This witness was identified by the officer in charge back in December 2021 and it’s taken from then to now for the officer to approach them for a statement.

“From my understanding, the police approached them (this year) to take a statement, this person said they couldn’t remember.

“This person had sent a message to my client via social media and I would like to take a statement from this person because this is potentially important to our application (to dismiss the case).”

Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco said she would not object to a further adjournment but queried the timing of the request.

“(I do not oppose), with this qualification: it hasn’t been indicated on the record when Mr Lehrmann had contact with that witness,” she said.

“It could very well be that the contact was some time ago, in which case it doesn’t justify the need for an adjournment of a permanent stay on proceedings application.

“But, I accept that Ms Burrows has indicated she wishes to conduct those inquiries and, given there is still evidently a police notebook that is outstanding … I wouldn’t be opposed.”

The potential witness was not discussed at a court mention on Monday, July 21 where both parties indicated they would be ready to proceed with Friday’s hearing.

Ms Burrows also indicated a subpoena requesting all police evidence surrounding the investigation – including unredacted documents, police notebooks and a full Cellebrite report of the claimant’s phone – would not be able to be fulfilled by Friday’s planned hearing.

She argued they would need to rely upon the evidence requested in their application to halt all court proceedings relating to his rape charges.

“I was advised (on Monday) that they would probably require about two weeks (to collect and assess all materials),” Ms Burrows said.

Judge Benedict Power KC granted Ms Burrows’ request for an adjournment, setting the matters down for mention on July 31 with a new hearing expected on August 28, 2025.

A separate hearing to consider whether intercepted phone calls between Mr Lehrmann’s lawyers and the Queensland Police were illegally obtained will go ahead on Friday, July 25 in Toowoomba District Court.

Mr Lehrmann is charged with two counts of rape arising from an incident in Toowoomba in 2021.

He has denied the allegations against him.