Lawyer in Bruce Lehrmann’s rape trial claims ‘shroud of secrecy’ over police investigation, texts ‘cherrypicked’

A lawyer representing former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann in his rape case has alleged in court there is a “shroud of secrecy” over the police investigation.

A lawyer for former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann, who is facing two counts of rape, has claimed there is a “shroud of secrecy” surrounding the investigation due to the lack of confirmation of the existence of police notebooks and diary entries.

Zali Burrows, Mr Lehrmann’s solicitor, flagged what she claimed were “pretty concerning” aspects of the police investigation into her client during a brief call-over mention at Toowoomba District Court on Thursday.

Mr Lehrmann, 29, remains on bail and was not required to appear.

Police charged him with two counts of rape in January 2023, alleging the charges stem from an incident in Toowoomba back in 2021.

Former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann is facing two counts of rape, which police allege stem from an incident in Toowoomba back in 2021. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Mr Lehrmann was last year committed to stand trial in the District Court on the charges.

A date for trial has not been set and Mr Lehrmann has not yet entered a plea but has previously indicated he will fight the charges.

During Thursday’s mention, Ms Burrows said the Crown had served her with the brief of evidence about two weeks ago.

She told the court there appeared to be a “shroud of secrecy” over the investigation.
“The Crown cannot confirm, at this stage, if there are any police notebook or diary entries in respect of this investigation, which is pretty concerning,” Ms Burrows said.

Zali Burrows, Mr Lehrmann’s lawyer, claimed in court there was a ‘shroud of secrecy’ surrounding the police investigation into her client. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

She flagged another issue surrounding the complainant’s phone, saying she had only received about 200 pages – with redactions – from a 2200 page Cellebrite report on the complainant’s phone.

Ms Burrows alleged the material had been “cherrypicked with disjointed text exchanges”.

“We are having issues with full service redactions and what we view as nondisclosure of police notebooks and diaries,” she said.

The court was told Ms Burrows had filed an application seeking the full unredacted disclosure of the Cellebrite report on the complainant’s phone, along with all police “notebooks, diaries, emails and text messages” in respect of the investigation.

“We’re also seeking disclosure of statements or things in possession of the prosecution which may be relevant to these proceedings, which they may not tend to rely upon in the proceedings,” Ms Burrows said.

Toowoomba District Court was told there were issues with the disclosure of the brief of evidence, with a redacted Cellebrite report on the complainant’s phone only detailing some 200 messages. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

District Court judge Dennis Lynch ordered the defence to file their material supporting their application by June 13 and the Crown by June 16.

Mr Lehrmann’s matter will next be mentioned on June 20.

Police allege Mr Lehrmann had sex with the woman twice without her consent during a night out in Toowoomba.

During a committal hearing in July last year, the court was told the woman had been out drinking with friends and consumed cocaine before she went to a strip club, The Vault, in Toowoomba, where she met a man she claimed said his name was Bryce.

It will be alleged in court that Mr Lehrmann gave the woman a false name of “Bryce” when the pair met before clarifying his name as “Bruce”.

Mr Lehrmann’s matter will return to court in June. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

The pair allegedly has consensual sex after leaving the club and using more cocaine.

The woman claims she then lost consciousness and woke to Mr Lehrmann having sex with her without consent, telling him to stop.

It is further alleged moments later, he again had sexual intercourse with her without consent.

Mr Lehrmann was represented by criminal solicitor Rowan King, from RK Law, in the lead-up to his committal.

But in a surprise move back in March, Mr Lehrmann announced he was dropping his legal team, instead naming Ms Burrows as his new legal representative.

A source close to Mr Lehrmann said of Ms Burrows: “He works well with her, that’s clear from the appeal under way and wins she’s already had. She (Ms Burrows) won’t be afraid to rain down hell if it’s needed, and Bruce needs that.”

Originally published as Lawyer in Bruce Lehrmann’s rape trial claims ‘shroud of secrecy’ over police investigation, texts ‘cherrypicked’