Bruce Lehrmann, the former political staffer whose sexual assault trial was sensationally aborted last year, has found himself back before the courts - this time in Tasmania facing allegations of vehicle theft.
Court Appearance in Hobart
The 28-year-old appeared briefly in Hobart Magistrates Court on Monday morning, charged with stealing a Toyota RAV4 from Parliament House earlier this year. Lehrmann, dressed in a dark suit, spoke only to confirm his name and did not enter a plea during the short hearing.
Bail Conditions Imposed
Magistrate Glenn Hay granted Lehrmann bail under strict conditions, including that he must not contact any witnesses involved in the case and must report to police twice weekly. The matter has been adjourned until November 28 for further mention.
Previous Legal Controversies
This latest legal development comes after Lehrmann's high-profile sexual assault trial concerning Brittany Higgins was abandoned in October 2022 due to juror misconduct. Prosecutors subsequently dropped all charges against him, citing concerns about Ms Higgins' mental health.
Lehrmann has consistently maintained his innocence regarding the sexual assault allegations, pleading not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.
Ongoing Legal Battles
The former Liberal staffer remains embroiled in multiple legal proceedings, including:
- Defamation action against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson
- Separate defamation case against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Now facing car theft charges in Tasmania
Lehrmann's lawyer indicated they would be carefully reviewing the latest charges as the case progresses through the Tasmanian legal system.
