Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has claimed he will defend allegations he stole a car.
The 29-year-old fronted Hobart Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning after being charged with ‘motor vehicle stealing’.
It is alleged he stole a Toyota Prado from a rural property in the Huon Valley area in Tasmania’s south, about 30km southeast of Hobart, on November 20 last year.
According to court documents, the charge of motor vehicle stealing was brought against Lehrmann by Gail Denise Oates.
Sydney lawyer Zali Burrows, who was seen with Lehrmann in Hobart in October, is representing him and appeared via phone link from NSW.
He did not enter a plea and the matter was adjourned until June 19.
But a source close to Lehrmann told Newscorp that he was ‘confused’ by the charge, claiming Ms Oates’s son let him use the vehicle because he was helping maintain their property.
It was reported in early 2023 that Lehrmann was living in Tasmania and picking grapes at a boutique winery.
The source also claimed Ms Oates only complained to police weeks after Lehrmann had used the car.
‘She complained weeks after the fact and the car was borrowed for half a day and returned with a full tank of fuel,’ the source added.
Lehrmann, who is studying law, is well-acquainted with the courts’ system.
Last year, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee found he had raped his former colleague Brittany Higgins following a night out in March 2019 after he brought a defamation case against Channel 10.
The judgment was found to the civil standard, which is on the balance of probabilities rather than beyond reasonable doubt.
Lehrmann has always denied the allegations and is appealing the judgement.
Criminal proceedings over the incident in the ACT ended with no findings against Lehrmann after juror misconduct.
A mooted second trial was abandoned over fears for Ms Higgins’ mental health.
He is also set to stand trial on two counts of rape at Toowoomba District Court later this year.
He has not entered pleas but it it believed he will defend the charges.