At the dinner where Brittany Higgins gave her mother the worst news imaginable: An Instagram photo shows her beaming as she tucks into zucchini fries at a Greek restaurant and says, “Such a great night.”

Brittany Higgins was dining at a poolside Greek restaurant when she decided to tell her mother and her mother's ex-boyfriend that she had allegedly been raped at Parliament House.

Kelly Higgins, the former employee's mother, told the Federal Court on Monday that her daughter disclosed her alleged sexual assault during a dinner at Hellenika at The Calile, in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley, on November 26, 2019.

“The three of us were sitting at a dining table in an open restaurant and Brittany made the decision at that moment to share the details of what had actually taken place,” she said in her testimony – describing the situation as “the worst nightmare of a mother. '.

She became inflamed when Bruce Lehrmann's barrister, Steven Whybrow SC, suggested the rape never happened that night, telling the court she remembered the date because there were photos on social media.

Ny Breaking Australia can reveal those photos are still on Ms Higgins' public Instagram account and show the former employee laughing with Kelly and her ex-partner, along with a photo of mother and daughter standing by the pool.

Ms Higgins captioned the post: 'TThere's nothing better than zucchini fries, warm Queensland evenings and poolside dining! In the wonderful company of Kelly Higgins, while we found ourselves in a food coma at Hellenika.'

Brittany Higgins captioned the post: “Truly, there's nothing better than zucchini fries, warm Queensland evenings and poolside dining.”

Ms Higgins commented on her own post, describing the evening as 'such a great night!' – despite revealing her alleged rape to her mother earlier that same evening.

In court on Monday, Kelly recounted the disturbing conversation to the court.

She described the moment Ms Higgins told her she was in Linda Reynolds' ministerial suite in the early hours of March 23, 2019 – just nine months before the poolside dinner.

'She was extremely drunk and not feeling well. The next thing she remembered was sitting in the lounge and thinking she passed out,” she told the court.

“She woke up with pressure and pain on her leg to find that Bruce Lehrmann, when she was coherent, was on top of her and raping her.”

'She told him, no, he had to stop… That he looked at her blankly and stared, and ignored her. He continued to rape her and ignored her. He was done doing that to her. And then he left.'

Kelly and Brittany Higgins are pictured together in Hellenika at The Calile, in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley, on November 26, 2019

Kelly Higgins is photographed outside court on Monday. She was questioned by Bruce Lehrmann's attorney

Kelly told the court she wanted to know more and asked Ms Higgins for information – she wanted to know 'why no one helped her, why no one called an ambulance'.

She said in her testimony that her daughter was emotional during that conversation, but seemed relieved after sharing it.

During cross-examination, Mr Whybrow suggested the conversation never took place.

Mr Whybrow said: 'I would like to point out that the conversation you reported to him that you say took place with (your partner) on November 21 did not take place.'

Kelly responded, “That's incorrect.”

Mr Whybrow said: 'Your daughter did not pass on to you and (your partner) all the matters you gave in evidence.

Bruce Lehrmann is photographed outside the Federal Court with his lawyer Steven Whybrow SC on Monday

“You agree that what you have proven is very consistent with what has been broadcast about the project.”

Kelly said, “Here's what really happened.”

Ms Higgins' parents and her father's partner gave evidence on Monday, during the third week of Mr Lehrmann's defamation hearing.

Mr Lehrmann is suing Wilkinson and Ten over an interview with Ms Higgins on The Project on February 15, 2021, in which she first made her rape allegations against him.

He was not named in that broadcast, but he claims he was identified by friends, colleagues and relatives as the man who allegedly raped Ms Higgins at Parliament House on March 23, 2019.

Mr. Lehrmann has consistently denied having any sexual contact with Ms. Higgins, consensual or otherwise.

The hearing will resume on Tuesday morning.