Brittany Higgins seeks up to $1million compensation as she breaks her silence after high-profile sexual assault case was sensationally abandoned

Brittany Higgins could receive up to $1million in compensation as the former Liberal staffer broke her silence days after the sexual assault case she was a complainant in was sensationally abandoned.

Ms Higgins took to Instagram on Sunday to reiterate the same statement she made outside a Canberra court in October after a juror triggered a mistrial. 

Former political staffer Ms Higgins had alleged Bruce Lehrmann, a colleague at the time, had raped her inside minister Linda Reynolds’ Parliament office in March 2019 – an allegation he has continuously denied.

After the first trial collapsed due to jury misconduct, a second had been scheduled to go ahead next year – however the charge was dropped on Friday after warnings it could come at the cost of Ms Higgins’ mental health. 

Ms Higgins was in hospital on Friday when prosecutors confirmed the second trial would not be going ahead.

Ms Higgins thanked the court and its officers on Sunday who ‘treated me with such respect when I was there’.

Brittany Higgins (pictured left in October) could receive up to $1million in compensation as the man originally charged with her alleged rape also seeks a significant payout

‘I chose to speak up,’ Ms Higgins wrote.

‘To speak up and share my experience with others.’

Ms Higgins said her life had been ‘publicly scrutinised, open for the world to see’ as she said she knew ‘the odds were stacked against me from the outset’.

‘Most importantly, I want to thank the workers in our mental healthcare system, without whom, I literally would not be here today,’ she wrote.

Ms Higgins also thanked the DPP – the team that pursued the case, her lawyers, family and her partner David Sharaz. 

Ms Higgins’ statement comes as her lawyers quietly seek compensation for the trial. 

Sources who have seen the legal document claim Ms Higgins will seek compensation for lost earnings, future earnings and at-home support.

Mr Lehrmann (pictured in Canberra in October) is also seeking cash compensation, with his lawyers considering a Comcare claim, defamation action against media outlets, and unfair dismissal from the jobs he lost after the rape allegations emerged

The three respondents named for the claim are Senator Linda Reynolds, who was Ms Higgins’ boss when the alleged rape occurred, Liberal frontbencher Michaelia Cash and the Commonwealth, news.com.au reported. 

Ms Higgins’ lawyer Leon Zwier, who supported the 28-year-old during her criminal case in Canberra, is aware of the claim. 

Personal injury lawyer Noor Blumer, of Blumers Lawyers, has been negotiating the compensation claim since February. 

An official claim has not been filed as parties prepare for mediation talks. 

Ms Higgins has not worked full-time since she went public with her account of the alleged incident at Parliament House in February, 2021. 

Mr Lehrmann is also seeking cash compensation, with his lawyers considering a Comcare claim, defamation action against media outlets, and unfair dismissal from the jobs he lost after the rape allegations emerged. 

Ms Higgins (pictured) has not worked full-time since she went public with her account of the alleged incident at Parliament House in February, 2021

Mr Lehrmann (pictured) had been due to face a retrial in February, after the first trial was abandoned in October after 

On Friday, ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC had made his announcement that the case would no longer be pursued.

Mr Lehrmann had been due to face a retrial in February, after the first trial was abandoned due to juror misconduct in October. 

It has now emerged that police believed there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Mr Lehrmann after he was accused of sexual assault by Ms Higgins, according to diary notes made by the most senior police officer on the case.

ACT Police Manager of Criminal Investigations Detective Superintendent Scott Moller claimed in his notes that Mr Drumgold had decided to push on with the case regardless. 

He wrote down a conversation where superintendent Moller and his boss, ACT Deputy Chief Police Officer Michael Chew, warned Mr Drumgold about proceeding.

ACT Police Manager of Criminal Investigations Detective Superintendent Scott Moller (pictured) claimed in his notes that the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold SC had decided to push on with the case regardless

Mr Drumgold announced on Friday the case against Mr Lehrmann would be dropped for the sake of Ms Higgins and her mental health

Superintendent Moller claimed there was ‘insufficient evidence’ while Mr Chew said he wouldn’t proceed with the case if it was up to him, The Australian reported.

‘DCPO stated ”if it was my choice I wouldn’t proceed. But it’s not my choice. There is too much political interference”,’ detective superintendent Moller wrote.

‘I said: ”That’s disappointing given I think there is insufficient evidence”.’

It has also been revealed that police unlawfully gave Ms Higgins’ protected evidence to Mr Lehrmann’s original defence lawyers on a USB in September 2021 – with the team insisting they did not open the material.

Psychological counselling notes and a video of the police interview with Ms Higgins were among the protected evidence unlawfully sent to Mr Lehrmann’s legal team. 

The lawyers that received the information were later replaced by barrister Steve Whybrow – who did not receive the documents.

Mr Lehrmann had been accused of raping Ms Higgins (pictureda0 in minister Linda Reynolds’ Parliament office in March 2019 – an allegation he has continuously denied

The release of the sensitive material prompted Mr Drumgold to label it a ‘serious’ issue and demanded police retrieve it.

He asked superintendent Moller to make sure the USB was examined to verify claims made by Mr Lehrmann’s lawyers at the time they had not accessed the information.

‘Noting he is still in possession of highly sensitive and protected information, is he going to return the memory stick to the AFP?’ Mr Drumgold said.

‘It appears the least the AFP could do is send someone over to collect it. And my suggestion is that if and when you get it back you have the metadata examined to ensure sensitive documents have not been accessed or copied.’

Police believed there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) after he was accused of sexual assault by Brittany Higgins, according to diary notes made by the most senior police officer on the case

Bruce Lehrmann was spotted chatting on the phone at Sydney Airport in his first public appearance since his sexual assault charge was dropped on Friday. 

He wore a black face mask, a Ralph Lauren vest, dark pants and brown boots as he wheeled his luggage through the airport on Friday.

He was seen without his usual glasses as he spoke on the phone while carrying a brown bag, along with a black suitcase.