Brittany Higgins and Linda Reynolds defamation mediation ongoing
Linda Reynolds has emerged from a near-10-hour court mediation session declaring that her defamation suit with Brittany Higgins and fiance David Sharaz is ongoing.
The Liberal senator spent most of Tuesday in closed-door talks with the former political staffers at Perth's David Malcolm Justice Centre.
It was "inappropriate to comment", Reynolds said as she left, adding that "negotiations are ongoing" and confirming the matter was not due back in court on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Senator gets $90k payout over Lehrmann trial allegations
Linda Reynolds is meeting with Brittany Higgins and her partner David Sharaz in an effort to settle a defamation suit. Trevor Collens
The former defence minister is suing Higgins and Sharaz over a series of social media posts she says damaged her reputation.
The couple said nothing to waiting media as they left court on Tuesday.
They left Australia in December to start a new life in France, with social media posts showing the Arc de Triomphe and the couple walking a dog.
Lawyers for the parties appeared in the Western Australian Supreme Court in February, when they sorted out key dates in preparation for a trial should mediation fail.
Reynolds is suing Higgins' fiance David Sharaz (right) over tweets he made and a Facebook comment in 2022. Alex Ellinghausen/SMH
Justice Marcus Solomon encouraged the parties to work together to resolve the matter before a lengthy and costly trial.
Reynolds is suing Sharaz over tweets he made and a Facebook comment in 2022.
Among the defamatory imputations claimed against Sharaz's tweets were that Reynolds pressured Higgins not to proceed with a genuine complaint to police, "is a hypocrite in her advocacy for women's interests and empowerment", interfered in Bruce Lehrmann's trial and bullied Higgins.
READ MORE: Bias found in report against prosecutor in Lehrmann rape trial
Reynolds is suing Higgins and Sharaz over a series of social media posts that she says have damaged her reputation. Alex Ellinghausen/SMH
Reynolds claims she was also defamed by Sharaz's reply to a comment on her Facebook page that asked how she was still in politics having "destroyed" Higgins.
The commenter added, "You're a monster who deserves to be in jail".
Sharaz responded: "Thanks for reminding her. I hope she hears this every day until she dies", the senator's statement of claim says.
Higgins is accused of posting defamatory material on two occasions on her Instagram and Twitter accounts.
Higgins alleged she was raped in 2019 by Lehrmann inside Reynolds' ministerial office, where he also worked as a staffer.
Lehrmann consistently denied the allegation, and his trial in the ACT Supreme Court was derailed by juror misconduct.
Prosecutors decided not to pursue further action, citing concerns of the impact it may have on Higgins' mental health.
He has since been charged with raping another woman in Queensland and his lawyers have indicated he will plead not guilty.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
