Bruce Lehrmann missed court on a car theft charge, citing medical issues, sparking criticism over procedural confusion.

Bruce Lehrmann missed a Hobart Magistrates Court appearance Thursday on a car-stealing charge tied to the November 20, 2024, theft of a Toyota Prado in Mountain River, Tasmania, drawing criticism from Magistrate Robert Webster, who said his lawyer, Zali Burrows, misunderstood court procedures. Burrows, a Sydney solicitor, was unreachable by phone, and the court was told Lehrmann was unavailable due to urgent medical issues. The police prosecutor confirmed a strong prima facie case but agreed to an adjournment for procedural fairness. The trial, expected to last four days, will include testimony from the car owner, her family, a service station worker, and five police officers. Lehrmann, a former Liberal staffer, has denied the theft and is also facing a separate Federal Court case over alleged misuse of classified submarine documents. He previously denied a 2019 rape allegation involving Brittany Higgins; a 2024 Federal Court ruling found the rape likely occurred, dismissing his defamation claim against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, a decision he has appealed.