EXCLUSIVE
Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz revealed their whereabouts as the defamation trial against their former boss, Senator Linda Reynolds, began.
But instead of being in Perth, where the trial is taking place, the newlyweds were spotted wandering around Paris, chasing pigeons as they made their way from a train station to the Australian embassy.
The couple are not in the French capital to watch the Olympics, but took a three-hour train into the city to sign an affidavit.
Ms Higgins, who announced her pregnancy last month, was seen clutching her baby bump as the couple entered the Australian embassy.
She paired a flowing black and white striped maternity dress with Chanel pumps, while her new husband sported a navy Ralph Lauren shirt with an open collar.
Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz posted about their trip to the city on Instagram.
‘POV: When your local notary takes a month off and you have to go to the embassy to sign affidavits,’ Ms Higgins captioned a video of her husband running to scare away a flock of pigeons.
“Who was more scared: you or the pigeons?” Mrs Higgins asked.
Ms Higgins, who announced her pregnancy last month, was seen clutching her baby bump as the couple entered the Australian embassy.
She paired a flowing black and white striped maternity dress with Chanel pumps, while her new husband sported facial hair and a navy Ralph Lauren open-neck shirt.
“It’s probably me. They’re coming back!” Mr Sharaz replied as he walked down the sidewalk.
But that wasn’t the couple’s only foray into social media on Monday.
A post on the former political staffer’s Instagram was challenged in the Western Australian Supreme Court during proceedings on Monday afternoon.
While the court was in session, Ms Higgins posted a screenshot of a book she contributed to, called ‘How Many More Women’, by Jennifer Robinson and Keina Yoshida.
The book is about laws that exist around the world that silence female victims.
Ms Higgins’ rape story was included in the book but was removed from the original version due to upcoming court proceedings.
The couple are not in the French capital to watch the Olympics, but instead took a three-hour train into the city to sign an affidavit (pictured: entering the Australian embassy)
Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz posted about their trip to the city on Instagram (pictured)
Mr Sharaz said he was afraid of pigeons as he walked along the Parisian sidewalk.
The book is being republished with Mrs Higgins’ story included.
He captioned the post: ‘Relevant reading.’
Ms Reynolds’s lawyer, Martin Bennett, said Ms Higgins’s “comment” was “extraordinarily inappropriate” and said his client’s statement of claim would be amended to include the latest post.
Moments before the court adjourned for the day, Mr Bennett said: ‘While my client was giving evidence, Ms Higgins posted on social media.
“If Ms Higgins thinks she can make constant comments about my client, that is extraordinarily inappropriate,” he told the court.
‘You would expect someone to advise Ms Higgins to stop making comments.’
Ms Higgins’s barrister, Rachael Young SC, said the publication was a reprint of a book that had been published, rather than “an express reference to today’s proceedings”.
Mr Bennett said: “It’s about timing and connection.”
Judge Tottle said he would deal with the submissions when the time came.
Linda Reynolds’ lawyer, Martin Bennett, said Ms Higgins’ “comment” was “extraordinarily inappropriate” and said his client’s statement of claim would be amended to include the latest post.
Meanwhile, a fundraising campaign has been set up to help Ms Higgins with “ongoing medical, counselling and legal costs”, less than two years after she was controversially awarded a $2.4m taxpayer-funded settlement.
The campaign, which was set up by anti-sexual assault campaigner Saxon Mullins and will be held in trust by her Perth-based lawyers, will not be directly accessible to Ms Higgins or Mr Sharaz.
According to the fundraising campaign, called #standwithbrittanyhiggins, the money would be inaccessible to Ms Reynolds if she won her defamation case.
The campaign said: ‘This fundraiser is to provide additional support for Brittany Higgins’ ongoing medical, counselling and legal costs.
‘The money will be used for the benefit of Brittany Higgins for ongoing medical and counselling costs, and to pay any outstanding bills for legal work undertaken for Ms Higgins.’
A fundraiser has been set up to help Ms Higgins with “ongoing medical, counselling and legal costs”, less than two years after she was controversially awarded a $2.4m taxpayer-funded settlement (pictured)
Last week it was revealed that Ms Higgins would have to sell her $600,000 home in France to cover her legal fees during the libel action.
If she loses the case, Ms Higgins will also have to pay Ms Reynolds’ legal fees. The cost of the case could run into millions.
In April, Federal Court Judge Lee found on a balance of probabilities that Bruce Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.
The fundraising message read: “Many hoped the ruling would mark the end of this legal saga and that Brittany would be free to move forward and heal privately.”
‘However, Brittany is now being sued for defamation by a former boss, over three social media posts made by her in mid-2023.’
The campaign also targeted men’s rights activist Bettina Arndt, who will hold a conference at the end of August called “Restoring the Presumption of Innocence.”
Lehrmann was scheduled to speak at the conference until Judge Lee’s ruling in April.
‘One of the announced speeches (at the conference) is titled ‘The verdict goes to… best actress,’ the campaign reads.
In December 2022, Ms Higgins launched legal action against the Commonwealth over the way her bosses in Parliament handled her rape allegations in 2019.
After paying legal fees, he walked away with about $1.9 million.