Brittany Higgins claimed she felt ‘suicidal’ in the days and weeks after she alleges she was raped by Bruce Lehrmann. But Linda Reynolds will argue people around her remember things differently…

Lawyers representing Sen. Linda Reynolds in her defamation lawsuit against Brittany Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz, will base much of their case on the ex-political operative’s claims that she was “suicidal” in the aftermath of her alleged rape.

Senator Reynolds launched defamation claims against the couple in 2023 after her former Liberal Party media adviser allegedly breached their settlement agreement.

The proceedings stem from Ms Higgins’ claim that she was raped by her colleague, Bruce Lehrmann, in Ms Reynolds’s office at Parliament House in 2019.

Following the alleged rape, Ms Higgins worked in Perth with Senator Reynolds in the run-up to the 2019 federal election, during which time Ms Higgins claims she felt ‘isolated, left out and suicidal’.

However, Senator Reynolds’ lawyer Martin Bennett claims their case will bring back “very different memories of that.” Western Australian reported.

Following the alleged rape, Ms Higgins worked in Perth with Senator Reynolds in the lead-up to the 2019 federal election (pictured, a photo Ms Higgins shared from Perth on election night; she is pictured top left)

It is understood Senator Reynolds’ team will call up to 20 witnesses at a trial, including Ms Higgins’ former colleagues.

At a hearing Wednesday presided over by a new judge, Judge Paul Tottle, there was no mention of further mediation between the three parties.

Instead, the groups scheduled a strategic conference for May 24, ahead of the six-week trial that began July 24.

Senator Reynolds sought damages from Mr Sharaz in January 2023 over claims that the former Press Gallery journalist shared five social media posts defaming her.

Just six months later, the senator launched a defamation lawsuit against Ms Higgins, who she claims shared two social media posts falsely claiming Senator Reynolds was using the press to harass her.

In one post, Ms Higgins slammed her former boss for ‘continuing to harass me through the media and in parliament’.

Senator Reynolds claims the couple’s posts were a “coordinated plan” to attack her integrity.

Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz flew some 9,000 miles to Perth from their new home in the south of France to sit with Senator Reynolds for mediation in March, but the parties were unable to reach a resolution.

Ms Higgins told reporters at the time that it was difficult being back in Perth because of her negative memories.

The lawyer representing Senator Reynolds (pictured) told reporters on Wednesday that she has taken out a mortgage on her house to pay for the proceedings.

“It’s beautiful, but personally it’s hard to be back in Perth,” she said.

“I think everyone is acting in good faith and trying to get a result.”

After their nine-hour attempt at peace talks, Ms Higgins shared an Instagram Story that read: “I won’t be silent so you can stay comfortable.”

On Wednesday, Senator Reynolds’ lawyer, Mr Bennett, told the court she plans to add the post to her claims against Ms Higgins, arguing it made the situation worse.

It is expected that Ms. Higgins and Mr. Sharaz will conduct their defense simultaneously due to the overlapping nature of Senator Reynolds’ claims.

Mr Bennett has also asked the court to adopt a document exchange schedule to reduce the costs of the trial.

He later told reporters outside court that Senator Reynolds had been forced to mortgage her house to finance her case.

However, Mr Bennett did not rule out reviving mediation efforts following Judge Michael Lee’s judgment in Mr Lehrmann’s defamation case against Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten.

Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz flew to Perth (pictured) in March for a nine-hour mediation with Senator Reynolds

“Right now we need to prepare for trial,” Bennett said.

Judge Lee will rule next week.

Lehrmann has strongly denied allegations that he raped Ms Higgins in March 2019.

A criminal trial against him was abandoned in October 2022 due to juror misconduct.

Further criminal proceedings were halted due to concerns about Ms Higgins’ mental health.

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