Former Liberal Party staff member Bruce Lehrmann has changed his legal representation just months ahead of his trial on two rape charges. Lawyer Zali Burrows, based in Sydney, confirmed to AAP on Monday that she will now be acting for Lehrmann during his court proceedings in Queensland’s District Court at Toowoomba.
Lehrmann faces accusations of raping a woman twice on October 10, 2021, after their meeting at a Toowoomba strip club the night before. Previously, he was represented by Sunshine Coast lawyer Rowan King, who has been involved in the case since it was first mentioned in court in January 2023. During a hearing that month, King indicated that Lehrmann’s barrister planned to request a judge-only trial, citing potential issues related to lengthy proceedings or significant pre-trial publicity that could influence jury decisions.
Burrows has officially notified the District Court registry of her new role representing Lehrmann. In addition to her recent appointment, she has previously provided legal support for Lehrmann related to other matters, including a charge of motor vehicle theft in Tasmania. It is alleged that he stole a Toyota Prado on November 20 from Mountain River, located southwest of Hobart.
Additionally, Burrows has represented Lehrmann in a defamation appeal at the Federal Court in Sydney following his unsuccessful lawsuit against Network Ten. This case stemmed from a report broadcasted in February 2021 on The Project, which featured an interview with Brittany Higgins about her allegations of sexual assault by Lehrmann at Parliament House in March 2019 when both were working for Senator Linda Reynolds. In April, Justice Michael Lee ruled that Lehrmann had not been defamed, as the claims against him were predominantly true.
The criminal prosecution against Lehrmann in the ACT Supreme Court was previously abandoned due to juror misconduct, and no verdict was reached. His upcoming case in Toowoomba is set for a pre-trial directions hearing on March 27.
For those needing support, the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service is available at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).