1. Brittany Higgins’ social media post
On the second day of the trial, Ms Higgins took to Instagram to post a screenshot of a book she contributed to.
The book, titled ‘How Many More Women’ by Jennifer Robinson and Keina Yoshida, details how laws around the world silence female victims.
Ms Higgins’ rape story was included in the first edition of the book, but was removed from the original version due to looming court proceedings.
The book is being republished with Mrs Higgins’ story included.
She titled the post “relevant reading” and was criticised in court by Linda Reynolds’s lawyer, Martin Bennett.
“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”.
2. It was revealed that Linda Reynolds almost died
Brittany Higgins went public with her rape allegations on an episode of Network Ten’s The Project on 15 February 2021.
During the episode, he accused Linda Reynolds of trying to cover up the rape, which took place two years earlier in March 2019.
Senate Question Time was held the day after Ms Higgins’ remarks were broadcast and Ms Reynolds was grilled about the situation to the point where she suffered a nervous breakdown.
Last week, Ms. Reynolds told the court she had chest pain, her knees buckled and she had to leave the Senate.
On Monday, her partner, Robert Reid, cried as he told the court that she went to hospital and the cardiologist said: “We could lose her.”
3. The secrets of Labour Senator Kimberley Kitching
On Friday, Linda Reynolds broke down as she told the court she blamed herself for the death of Labor senator Kimberley Kitching.
Ms Kitching suffered a fatal heart attack on 10 March 2022. She was 52 years old.
Earlier this week, Ms Reynolds told the court that Ms Kitching approached her after morning prayers in Parliament in 2021 and told her she was sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Ms Kitching said Labour had been made aware of the rape that took place in Ms Reynolds’ office and were going to “rain hell” on her.
Ms Kitching learned of the rape through an anonymous email sent directly to her which described the rape but did not mention Ms Higgins by name.
She handed the letter to the Australian Federal Police, rather than to her Labor colleagues.
On Friday, Ms Higgins’s lawyer asked Ms Reynolds about her earlier evidence in the trial, when she said Ms Kitching’s decision to advise her on the Labour Party plan led to her death.
“I wanted to tell the truth,” Senator Reynolds said, crying uncontrollably.
“That proves my guilt. If she had not revealed her confidence in me… that was when she became furious with me… which led to her being ostracised by the Labour Party.
“I think what I said… caused her to be harassed to death. I feel very guilty.”
4. Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison gives testimony, fireworks continue
Linda Reynolds’ lawyers called Mr Morrison to give evidence, which he did via audio-visual link.
Mr Morrison spoke emphatically as he repeatedly interrupted Ms Higgins’s barrister, Rachael Young SC, before apologising and allowing her to continue with her line of questioning.
He tried to tell Ms. Young that her question was not relevant, told her that another question “puzzled” him, and generally spoke as if he were at a press conference, rejecting questions he did not want to answer.
Judge Paul Tottle, who had remained largely silent since proceedings began, took a more active role during Morrison’s testimony.
At one point he said: ‘Mr Morrison, unless there is any objection to the question, and there isn’t, I would appreciate it if you would answer the question.’
Mr Morrison defended Ms Reynolds, telling the court that parliamentary processes had let the senator and Ms Higgins down.
Brittany Higgins is photographed outside the Federal Court in Sydney in December.
