Former LNP staffer Bruce Lehrmann to fight alleged rape case in Toowoomba court

Mr Lehrmann was charged with two counts of rape on October 10, 2021, with his case mentioned in Toowoomba this week.

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

The alleged Toowoomba rape case before the Toowoomba District Court involving former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann continues to move slowly before the courts.

Mr Lehrmann was charged with two counts of rape on October 10, 2021 and he was committed to stand trial in July 2024, however a date has yet to be set.

Mr Lehrmann intends to fight the allegations.

When the 29-year-old man’s charges were mentioned before the Toowoomba District Court on Thursday, December 12, his matter was adjourned for a further mention on January 23, 2025.

Following a legislation change in late 2023, Mr Lehrmann was revealed as the “high-profile Toowoomba man” charged with two counts of rape involving a Darling Downs woman after an application to suppress his identity failed.

Earlier in the year when Mr Lehrmann attempted to have the charges dropped, Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the Toowoomba Court the pair met during a night out in the Toowoomba Nightlife precinct before travelling to a private residence.

It’s alleged the pair participated in consensual sex, however later the unconscious woman woke to find Mr Lehrmann penetrating her.

Ms Friedewald alleged the woman told Mr Lehrmann to stop.

“He confirmed to her that he was not wearing a condom, despite her insistence the night before that he do so during that one act of consensual intercourse,” she said.

“She then physically brought charge one, the act of penetration, to an end by positioning her body, forcing the defendant’s penis out of her body and despite all of this and these interactions, he immediately climbed on top of her and performed another act of sexual intercourse without wearing a condom once more.

“He did nothing, in my submission, to ascertain that she was consenting and to the contrary, her evidence is that he was consoling her throughout that act saying ‘it’s ok, it’s ok’.

“She describes her body as being limp and that she was not enthusiastic. He continued having intercourse with her until he ejaculated inside of her.”

Bruce Lehrmann arrives at Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 17, 2024.

During the failed no case submission in July, Defence barrister Andrew Hoare told the court following the alleged incident the complainant exhibited behaviours that were not consistent someone who had been raped.

Mr Hoare said the woman sent a message to a friend in the following days that stated she’d “had a bunch of fun with my friends” that evening.

He noted the morning after the pair travelled to a pharmacy for the morning after pill, the woman filled out a form stating the reason for the purchase was ‘contraceptive failure,’ rather than sexual assault.

Mr Hoare told the court in the follow days the woman did not disclose the alleged rape during medical visits which included an appointment for an STD screening.

He also put forward the alleged victim’s memory may have been impacted as she had been drinking and using cocaine with Mr Lehrmann.