Brittany Higgins’ fiance David Sharaz has thrown within the towel in his defamation battle in opposition to Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds, as his associate fails to persuade a court docket her case needs to be delayed due to her psychological well being points.
The previous defence minister, who plans to retire from politics on the subsequent election, is suing each her former political staffer and Sharaz over a collection of social media posts she says have broken her repute.
The case returned to the Western Australian Supreme Court docket on Tuesday to listen to Higgin’s utility to vacate the trial listed for six weeks in late July.
Through the listening to, Sharaz tweeted he would not struggle the case, which was confirmed by his lawyer Jason MacLaurin SC.
“Regardless of our greatest efforts, Linda Reynolds has not accepted makes an attempt to resolve this matter via mediation and Brittany could now be uncovered to a different trial. Will probably be her third,” Sharaz mentioned on social media.
“I can not afford to pay authorized prices to defend myself over a six-week trial.
“Because of this, I’ve as we speak knowledgeable the court docket that I can’t struggle Reynolds’ authorized motion anymore.
“I now attraction for Senator Reynolds to settle her litigation in opposition to Brittany, a rape sufferer, by agreeing to disagree and placing all of this behind them.”
Exterior the court docket, Reynold’s lawyer Martin Bennett mentioned the tweet was insulting, aggravating and an “attention-seeking stunt to control the media”.
“That is what Mr Sharaz does greatest,” he mentioned.
Linda Reynolds is suing each her former political staffer Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz over a collection of social media posts she says have broken her repute. Supply: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Bennett agreed it was perversely ironic that Sharaz would make the announcement in a tweet whereas his defamation motion over tweets was being heard.
“It gave the impression to be staged … You’ve got seen the phrases of the put up – it is one other assault on Senator Reynolds,” he mentioned.
He raised doubts over Sharaz’s declare he could not afford to proceed the case.
“He lives in a chateau. He hasn’t bought a job and he is bought a QC … and two solicitors representing him,” he mentioned.
Bennett mentioned the case in opposition to Sharaz would proceed even when he’s not represented in court docket and Reynolds would show her damages.
“If he is impecunious as he asserts in France, he’ll go bankrupt,” he mentioned.
Higgins’ lawyer Leon Zwier had requested the court docket for her trial to be vacated saying her psychological well being had suffered as a result of Bruce Lehrmann and Channel 10 determination handed down earlier within the month and the publicity that adopted.
He mentioned it was tough for her to instruct her legal professionals and there was some proof raised in the course of the proceedings that will should be assessed and will impression the case.
Zwier mentioned the continuing mediation between the events needs to be allowed to proceed with out the spectre of a trial looming over it.
Justice Paul Tottle mentioned the events had been prone to be greatest served by the matter being delivered to a conclusion earlier than later.
Reynolds is suing Sharaz over tweets he made and a Fb remark in 2022.
Among the many defamatory imputations claimed in opposition to Sharaz’s tweets had been that Reynolds pressured Higgins to not proceed with a real criticism to police, “is a hypocrite in her advocacy for girls’s pursuits and empowerment”, interfered in Bruce Lehrmann’s trial and bullied Higgins.
Reynolds claims she was additionally defamed by Sharaz’s reply to a touch upon her Fb web page that requested how she was nonetheless in politics having “destroyed” Higgins.
The commenter added, “You are a monster who deserves to be in jail”.
Sharaz responded: “Thanks for reminding her. I hope she hears this daily till she dies”, the senator’s assertion of declare says.
The case will return to court docket for a strategic convention on 10 Could.