Chris Morrd Richards, also known as Christopher James Richards, pictured outside the ACT Courts earlier this year. Photo: Albert McKnight.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to sexual assault.
Offensive threats were allegedly made against Bruce Lehrmann’s high-profile, Sydney-based criminal lawyer by a man from Canberra.
Police allege 43-year-old Chris Morrd Richards, also known as Christopher James Richards, left threatening voicemails on the phone of defence lawyer Zali Burrows on 21 August 2025.
Ms Burrows represented Mr Lehrmann in his Federal Court appeal, where he is seeking to overturn the finding that, on the balance of probabilities, he raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in March 2019.
The Federal Court has reserved its decision in the appeal. Mr Lehrmann has maintained his innocence.
The incident involving Ms Burrows was reported to NSW Police and referred to ACT Policing after enquiries allegedly linked Richards to the calls.
An ACT Policing spokesperson said officers raided Richards’ home in Bonython on 29 October and seized a mobile phone before arresting him on Saturday night (15 November).
He was charged with using a carriage service to menace and faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (17 November).
Magistrate Glenn Theakston said he was accused of leaving a number of messages to Ms Burrows that were “aggressive, vile and clearly designed to make her feel uncomfortable”.
Richards’ lawyer, Eimear Silk of Legal Aid, applied for him to be granted bail. She said her office would be applying to dismiss his charges on mental health grounds in December.
“Clearly, mental health is a significant issue,” she said.
The prosecutor opposed bail, saying he already faced other allegations.
Magistrate Theakston said Richards had an unusual set of circumstances, including being diagnosed with autism, ADHD and avoidant restrictive food disorder.
He said the allegations must be attributable, in some part, to a disorder.
Bail was granted on conditions, including that he not use a phone unless in the presence of a support worker or for an emergency.
Richards could be seen over the audio-visual link, sitting in a room with a blanket draped over his body for much of his bail application.
He will return to court for the mental health application on 10 December.
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