Brittany Higgins

2022 - 5 - 31

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Canberra Times"

Trial of alleged Brittany Higgins rapist Bruce Lehrmann's ACT ... (The Canberra Times)

The trial was due to begin next week, but lawyers representing the accused are no longer available.

These days, I cover the ACT and Queanbeyan courts. These days, I cover the ACT and Queanbeyan courts. After stints in New Zealand, the UK and the Canary Islands, I returned to Australia in 2018.

Bruce Lehrmann given 48 hours to find barrister for trial to start next ... (The Sydney Morning Herald)

The former staffer accused of a rape in Parliament House has made a last-minute bid to delay his trial, due to start on Monday.

The trial has been set down for six weeks starting Monday, however, prosecutor Shane Drumgold said it could be possible to hold it over only four weeks. Legal Aid solicitor Tamzin Lee told the court that “realistically, finding counsel to commence on 6 June has been incredibly difficult”. As well, Legal Aid was effectively “starting anew in terms of representing the accused” after taking over Lehrmann’s case. ACT Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said on Tuesday the evidence put before her by lawyers acting for Lehrmann about their search for a replacement barrister was not sufficient reason to vacate the trial date, due to start on Monday.

Man accused of raping Brittany Higgins wants trial delayed due to ... (The Guardian)

Canberra trial due to start on Monday but lawyers for Bruce Lehrmann, who has pleaded not guilty, say he needs more time to seek new counsel.

It was heard the matter could potentially start on 20 June or 27 June if it would enable a new barrister to represent Lehrmann. The trial is listed to run for four weeks. Lehrmann has pleaded not guilty. “I appreciate that it might be a difficult proposition to obtain a barrister ready to start the trial next Monday ... but what you’ve given me is a blanket ‘we can’t find anyone – no one’s available ever’,” she said.