A defence lawyer says removing jury trials would breach centuries of constitutional law

Victim advocates are pushing for sexual violence trials to be judge-alone - arguing the move would protect survivors.

But Marie Dyhrberg KC says the right to trial by jury is enshrined and guaranteed in the Bill of Rights Act.

She says the law's history goes back to the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215.

Dyhrberg questions what is so special about sexual violence accusations to be worthy of such monumental change.