Lawsuit between Reynolds and Higgins nearing conclusion.

The highly publicized legal battle between Linda Reynolds and Brittany Higgins is about to resume, with both sides preparing to present their cases in court. Reynolds, a senator, is suing Higgins for defamation over a series of social media posts that she believes have damaged her reputation. The trial, which is taking place in the Western Australia Supreme Court, has already seen testimony from over 20 witnesses, including former Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Recently, wild weather has been lashing Victoria, prompting warnings to take shelter.

Reynolds has accused Higgins and her husband, David Sharaz, of portraying her as the "villain" in their version of events, which they have dubbed a "political cover-up fairy tale." The allegations include claims of ill-treatment, ostracism, bullying, harassment, and threatening conduct. However, Higgins' lawyer, Rachael Young, argued that her client showed immense courage in 2021 when she spoke out about her alleged rape and the toxic workplace culture at Parliament House, two years after the incident occurred. Young also dismissed the idea that Higgins was targeting Reynolds in an attempt to harm her, citing interviews with journalists Lisa Wilkinson and Samantha Maiden as evidence that her intentions were genuine.

Morrison, who also gave testimony in the trial, expressed his fear that Reynolds would not survive the intense political pressure that followed the allegations. He described it as a "weaponization" of the issue for political purposes, aimed at discrediting both Reynolds and the government, and by extension, himself. Reynolds' parents, Janice and Laith Reynolds, also gave statements, saying that their daughter had gone from being universally loved and respected to a pariah. They described the accusations against her as allegations that she had abandoned a young woman who had been raped and was now being portrayed as a monster.

Reynolds claims that her suffering has been exacerbated by Higgins' social media posts, which she believes imply that she harassed her former staffer, mishandled her alleged rape, wants to silence sexual assault victims, and engaged in questionable conduct during the aborted criminal trial of former staffer, Christian Porter. Higgins, on the other hand, argues that her statements are true and justified, with Young reminding the court of the senator's use of the derogatory term "lying cow" in front of parliamentary staff. She also accused Reynolds of backgrounding the media about Higgins during the trial.

Higgins' defense rests on the grounds of qualified privilege, fair comment, and honest opinion, stating that she was reacting to and speaking about issues of public interest. Young also pointed out that her client's pregnancy meant that she was expected to testify, but she later decided against it, believing that the case could still be won without her testimony. She also expressed concerns over her client's medical condition. The trial is set to continue today, with closing submissions scheduled for the next three days. Stay updated on all the latest breaking news, celebrity gossip, and sports updates through our WhatsApp channel - no comments, no algorithms, and your private details remain private.

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