Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has appeared at a committal hearing in ato face charges of rape.
Lehrmann is accused of two counts of sexual assault dating back to October 2021 in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane.
Under Queensland law,, but the state’s top court allowed his name to be published last year.
A magistrate is now set to decide if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. Here’s what you need to know.
Lehrmann’s first case
In February 2021, Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins accused her colleague,, of raping her inside Parliament House. Lehrmann has always maintained his innocence.
The criminal trial in the ACT was dismissed due to juror misconduct, and prosecutors did not pursue a re-trial, citing concerns for Higgins’ mental health.
Lehrmann later sued several media outlets for defamation, arguing he was identifiable in reporting of Higgins’ allegation.
In April, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee rejected Lehrmann’s defamation claim, finding it was “more likely than not“ that Lehrmann raped Higgins at Parliament under the civil system’s balance of probabilities.
As this was a civil trial, the verdict did not mean Lehrmann was criminally convicted of rape in that case.
In early June, Lehrmann filed an appeal against Justice Lee’s ruling.
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Lehrmann’s second case
The Toowoomba charges were first heard in court in January 2023.
Initially, Queensland laws had prevented the media from naming Lehrmann as the accused person.
However, eight months after charges were laid, Queensland passed laws allowing “the public naming of people charged with rape and other… sexual offences”.
As soon as the new laws came into effect, Lehrmann’s lawyers asked the court to keep him anonymous on the grounds of mental ill-health due to intense public scrutiny.
Queensland Police and eight media companies, including News Corp and the ABC, fought the attempt to keep his name secret.
In October, the case reached Queensland’s Supreme Court – the highest court in the state – where the judge dismissed Lehrmann’s appeal, meaning he could be named.
Latest developments
Today, Lehrmann appeared at a committal hearing at Toowoomba Magistrate’s Court. Media was not allowed in the courtroom due to the nature of evidence being presented by the complainant.
At a committal hearing, a magistrate considers whether there is enough evidence in a case to support a trial.
Lehrmann hasn’t entered his plea to the rape charges yet, but his lawyers have indicated to media he will plead not guilty.
