Judge’s bombshell decision as Bruce Lehrmann faces Queensland court for his second rape trial

The alleged victim will give evidence from another courtroom, via an audio-visual link.

Lehrmann’s barrister Andrew Hoare KC said the particulars of the case had been altered and matter may need to run into a second day.

‘There has been an application for special measures … the complainant will give evidence in a remote room and it’s entirely usual for someone in her position to give evidence in that way,’ he told the court.

The court then heard from Jess Goldie, a lawyer from Thomson Geer, who represented the ABC, News Corp, and Nine Network.

Ms Goldie made submissions to the court to request that media be able to listen to the alleged victim’s evidence, rather than conducting her cross-examination in a closed court.

She said the case was a ‘high public interest matter’ and reminded the court that her identity would not be published, as per Queensland laws.

‘It’s an important fundamental proposition to our legal system,’ she said.

‘This matter is a unique case which has attracted a high degree of national interest in media coverage. There is, therefore, a high public interest in the matter.’

Ms Goldie also said allowing the media to watch her evidence means the matter would be reported accurately.

Lehrmann’s barrister Andrew Hoare KC opposed the media application, telling the court that the scope of the cross-examination would mean the alleged victim would be identified.

However, Ms Goldie said the media would not report any identifying features of the complainant, even if they were covered in open court.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said the complainant also opposed the media application because she wanted privacy.

‘She wishes for her privacy to be maintained in a way that any other complainant in a matter of this type,’ Ms Fiedewald said.

Magistrate Marc Howden briefly adjourned the matter after the submissions were made.