{"id":67182,"date":"2024-06-17T12:33:09","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T02:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=67182"},"modified":"2024-06-17T12:33:15","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T02:33:15","slug":"bruce-lehrmann-faces-committal-hearing-on-two-rape-charges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=67182","title":{"rendered":"Bruce Lehrmann faces committal hearing on two rape charges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A major twist has emerged in Bruce Lehrmann\u2019s rape committal hearing at Toowoomba, with media booted from the courtroom while the complainant gives evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Lehrmann did not speak to media when entering the courthouse on Monday but was overheard saying \u201cwhere\u2019s Peter Costello when you need him?\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The quip is in reference to Mr Costello allegedly knocking over a journalist from The Australian, which was caught on video, at Canberra Airport earlier this month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Former parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann arrives to Toowoomba Magistrates Court in the company of his legal team. Picture: NewsWire \/ John Gass<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the first time Mr Lehrmann, 29, has fronted the regional courtroom since the charges were laid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An application from media entities to be allowed to report on closed court evidence during the committal has been dismissed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI accept the principle of open justice and acknowledge the high public interest in this case,\u201d magistrate Mark Howden said during his decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, in the court\u2019s opinion there has not been any basis raised which would shift the position that it would not be prejudicial to the interests of the complainant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe matter ought to proceed in the ordinary way in my opinion.\u201d
Mr Lehrmann is facing two charges of rape, with police alleging he raped a woman on two occasions while he was living in his home town in October 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has not yet entered pleas, but he has indicated he will defend the charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Except from News Corporation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A major twist has emerged in Bruce Lehrmann\u2019s rape committal hearing after he fronted court for the first time over the alleged 2021 incident.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":67184,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[273,35],"tags":[9032,7465,8723],"class_list":["post-67182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australia","category-breaking-news","tag-bruce-lehrmann","tag-queensland","tag-serious-crime"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t