Bruce Lehrmann has been sentenced in a Tasmanian court for using a vehicle without the consent of the owner after changing his plea to guilty.
The 30-year-old, who had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge, did not initially appear for his court mention on Thursday morning, despite being previously summoned to attend.
Magistrate Robert Webster told his lawyer Zali Burrows that the medical certificates provided to the court did not excuse his absence.
“I said to you last time that you were both to be here,” he said.
“Nothing before me that excuses his attendance today.”
Magistrate Webster then provided an indicative sentence to Ms Burrows for what her client would be sentenced to if he changed his plea.
Ms Burrows phoned Mr Lehrmann and told the court he would change his plea to guilty and appear before the court that afternoon.
Before breaking for lunch, Ms Burrows asked Magistrate Webster if Mr Lehrmann could use the side exit to avoid the media and if he could issue a restraining order against the media.
Magistrate Webster denied these requests but urged the media to be respectful.
Mr Lehrmann later attended court.
Bruce Lehrmann changed his plea to guilty. (ABC News)
Magistrate Webster told Mr Lehrmann that if he were to change his plea to guilty, he would have no conviction recorded against him, a 12-month good behaviour bond and $122 victims of crime levy.
“Thank you, I am very grateful,” Mr Lehrmann told the court before changing his plea.
The court heard the facts of the case were that Mr Lehrmann was partying at a residence south of Hobart with a friend on November 19, 2024.
When he woke up the next day, he took a car parked on a street nearby, thinking it was hers.
He then went to a local petrol station and filled the car up with fuel.
When he realised the car was not his friend’s, he returned it.
Ms Burrows told the court Mr Lehrmann was intoxicated at the time he got into the car.
Bruce Lehrmann spoke briefly to the media as he left. (ABC News)
After leaving court, Mr Lehrmann addressed the media briefly.
“I hope everyone gets out of bed tomorrow and gets the help they need and keeps fighting,” he said.
“People in similar situations need to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel”.
Suppression order lifted
Magistrate Robert Webster had earlier placed a suppression order on the morning’s court session, which was later lifted.
He told the court that Mr Lehrmann had a high profile due to a number of cases he was involved in, and that procedural fairness would not be advanced by permitting the publication of the proceedings.
A supression order on the morning’s proceedings was lifted in the afternoon. (ABC News)
Barrister Fabiano Cangelosi appeared on behalf of the media and argued for the suppression order to be dropped.
Ms Burrows opposed this, citing Mr Lehrmann’s mental health.
“The media could put a twist on it to cause a malice,” she said.
“That would exacerbate issues which he is suffering from.”
Magistrate Webster said that due to the principles of open justice, the press needed to be free to report.
Mr Lehrmann instructed Ms Burrows he was happy to “let the non-publication order go.”
“I lift the suppression and non-publication order…press may report on the proceedings today,” Magistrate Webster said.