How Brittany Higgins' face off with senator fell apart after she was forced to ... trends now
It was hoped this week that a court showdown involving Senator Linda Reynolds against her former staffer Brittany Higgins and her fiance David Sharaz would resolve their defamation dispute.
But after a marathon mediation session in private that spanned several hours on Tuesday, there was still no outcome on the case.
Mr Sharaz and Ms Higgins were forced to return to Australia from their new life in France to face Senator Reynolds in person, but the outgoing politician reportedly chose to sit in a separate room during the mediation talks.
Brittany Higgins was forced to return to Australia from France for mediation. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sharon Smith
Ms Higgins had arrived at the WA Supreme Court on Tuesday morning in a positive mood, ready to make her way through the media scrum and face her ex-boss for the forced mediation.
Wearing a $1300 cornflower blue buttoned Ahana Dress from London designer Beulah - whose slogan is 'fighting slavery through fashion' - Ms Higgins smiled and exchanged pleasantries with the media.
The dress was the same one worn by Princess Kate when the royal opened the Young V&A museum of childhood in London last year, except the princess wore a light pink version.
Alongside Ms Higgins was Mr Sharaz, who was equally well-dressed in high-end fashion, including a light blue shirt and cream blazer, complemented with a $200 Ralph Lauren silk knit tie.
David Sharaz wore a $200 Ralph Lauren silk knit tie. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sharon Smith
Ms Higgins said she believed everyone was eager to resolve the matters in good faith, but she had mixed emotions about her return to WA.
It was Ms Higgins' first visit back to Perth since she worked in the state in the lead-up to the federal election in 2019 - shortly after she alleged she was raped by fellow Canberra staffer Bruce Lehrmann in Senator Reynolds' office - a claim that Mr Lehrmann strongly denies.
'It's a difficult place to come back to,' Ms Higgins told reporters.
'It's beautiful, but just personally it's hard being back in Perth.
'I think everyone is acting in good faith trying to get an outcome.'
While that may have been true, the day did not exactly go to plan.
Both sides were locked away from about 10am until almost 7pm - not even leaving the building for lunch, which was instead brought up to them.
By the time the parties finally emerged in the evening, the building had long been closed and
