Bruce Lehrmann’s attorney, Zali Burrows, has expressed concerns regarding a “shroud of secrecy” surrounding the investigation into allegations that the former Liberal Party staffer raped a woman on the morning of October 10, 2021. This incident reportedly occurred after the two met at a strip club in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, the night before.
At a recent mention in Toowoomba District Court, Burrows raised issues with the prosecution’s lack of transparency, stating that critical information from the evidence brief had not been disclosed. She voiced her frustration with the absence of confirmation regarding any police notebooks or diaries tied to the investigation, labelling this as “concerning.”
The defence team received a heavily redacted selection of 200 pages from the alleged victim’s phone records, out of a total of 2,200 identified in a report. Burrows claimed that the prosecution appeared to have selectively presented text exchanges, restricting the defence’s ability to prepare effectively. She emphasised that the determination of what is relevant to the defence case should not be at the discretion of the Crown.
Moreover, the defence has filed for full access to unredacted phone records and complete disclosure of police materials, including notebooks and emails linked to the investigation. Burrows hopes that this additional evidence will bolster their case.
Earlier, Burrows had also highlighted the absence of nine witness statements and crucial CCTV footage, although she confirmed that some of this material was later provided, albeit with complications regarding the video files. The matter has been adjourned for a further hearing scheduled for June 20.
Lehrmann, now 29, previously worked as a staffer in the office of Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds. The alleged victim has asserted that following their night out involving cocaine and consensual sex, she was assaulted by Lehrmann when she woke up the next morning. Counsel for Lehrmann previously argued that the alleged victim’s intoxication may have impaired her ability to recall consent, suggesting that Lehrmann may have believed consent was present for subsequent sexual acts.
Additionally, Lehrmann’s previous legal representatives indicated their intention to seek a trial by judge alone, without a jury.
Support for those affected by similar issues is available through services like 1800 RESPECT and the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service.