Key Points
- Bruce Lehrmann has been named as the "high-profile man" accused of two counts of rape in Queensland.
- Lehrmann faces two counts of allegedly raping a woman in Toowoomba in October 2021.
- His identity had previously remained secret due to a Queensland law which was changed in October this year.
Bruce Lehrmann can now be named as the man facing two counts of rape in court in Queensland
His identity had previously remained secret - with the media referring to him as a "high profile man - in light of Queensland law which suppressed the names of people charged with sexual offences before being committed for trial.
This law was changed in October, but Lehrmann was granted an interim non-publication order.
Lehrmann, who remains on bail, faces two counts of allegedly raping a woman in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, in October 2021. He has not yet entered a plea.
Speaking in court at a hearing earlier this month, Lehrmann's barrister, Andrew Hoare, said the court should continue its interim non-publication order as his client had been diagnosed with mental health conditions that caused ideas of self-harm.
Robert Anderson KC, the barrister representing several media outlets including the Nine Network, News Corp and the Guardian Australia, said the high-profile man was seeking "extraordinary" secrecy via an amended law that was meant to protect alleged victims.
The magistrate rejected Lehrmann’s application for an ongoing non-publication order earlier this month, but granted another interim order to allow him to challenge the decision in Brisbane Supreme Court.
On Thursday, Lehrmann’s lawyers lost their judicial review against the magistrate’s ruling, meaning his name can now be revealed.
- With additional reporting by AAP
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit . In an emergency, call 000.
