The man accused of sexually assaulting former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019 has indicated he will fight the charge.
Bruce Lehrmann, 26, was charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent and summonsed to appear in court after a lengthy police investigation.
The case was mentioned for the first time in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Before Mr Lerhmann was charged, police consulted the ACT's Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold about the case.
Today, Mr Lehrmann's lawyers indicated their client would plead not guilty to the charge.
Case to return to court in October
It is alleged that Mr Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins in the office of Senator Linda Reynolds on March 23, 2019.
Ms Higgins lodged her complaint with police in February this year.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions in the ACT, all parties in the case appeared in court today by video link.
Mr Lehrmann did not appear, but was represented by his lawyer Warwick Korn.
Mr Drumgold told the court the brief had been completed, and the case was ready to be committed to the ACT Supreme Court for trial.
But Mr Korn asked for a four-week adjournment.
The case will be back on October 14.
Magistrate Beth Campbell told Mr Korn that Mr Lehrmann would be required to appear for committal, even if that is virtually.
The court heard he is currently in Queensland.
