Bruce Lehrmann, accused of two counts of rape, seeks a judge-only trial as pre-trial hearings approach in Toowoomba

Bruce Lehrmann, the former Liberal Party staffer, has announced plans to request a judge-only trial as he defends himself against two rape charges. Lehrmann, 29, is accused of raping a woman in Toowoomba in October 2021. His lawyers made the application for a judge-only trial during a mention in Toowoomba District Court, where a pre-trial application hearing is scheduled for March 27, 2025.

The charges relate to alleged sexual assaults that occurred after Lehrmann and the complainant met at The Vault nightclub in Toowoomba. CCTV footage reportedly captured the pair leaving the venue at 3:24 am on October 10, 2021, before heading to a home in East Toowoomba. The complainant claims that after they had consensual sex, she fell asleep, only to wake up to Lehrmann having sex with her again, at which point she asked him to stop.

During the committal hearing in July 2024, Crown Prosecutor Nicole Friedewald argued that Lehrmann did nothing to check if the complainant was still consenting. The complainant, who did not report the alleged assault until November 26, 2021, explained that delayed reporting is common for victims of sexual assault. Lehrmann’s defense team had argued that there was no case to answer and that he should not stand trial, but the magistrate disagreed, ordering that the trial proceed.

Both the prosecution and defense plan to file multiple pre-trial applications in March, including issues relating to protected counseling records and special witness provisions. The legal battle is expected to continue for several more months as the case progresses.