Brittany Higgins a 'passenger' in David Sharaz's TV plans: Fiance's email confession to Lisa Wilkinson is revealed as he admits 'I scared her'

Messages between Mr Sharaz and Wilkinson were published on the Federal Court website on Friday as part of the defamation trial against Bruce Lehrmann.

In one email, Wilkinson is seen discussing the logistics of meeting with Mr Sharaz and Ms Higgins to discuss the story for The Project in January 2021.

“Hi Lisa, in my attempt to be a good partner to a woman I love and care about, I scared her because this is starting very quickly,” Mr. Sharaz wrote.

“Naive, I didn't even think about making her feel like she's a passenger in something. I want her to feel like she has this under control.

“She wants to take control of this herself, but was glad I told you the background.”

Mr Sharaz said Ms Higgins was still working in Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds' office at the time and was “afraid this was going to blow up” before she left or reported the incident to police.

“I hope this makes sense and it's okay. My role going forward is to be a supportive partner to a woman I love and care about deeply,” said Sharaz.

Wilkinson responded to the email and arranged for Ms Higgins to be 'the driving force' of the story.

“Too many others have had control over everything that has happened to her so far. She is wise to want to change that,” Wilkinson said.

“Most importantly, let Brittany know that I completely understand ALL her concerns. And I promise we will continue at her pace from here.”

Mr Lehrmann has taken legal action against Wilkinson and Network 10 in federal court over her 2021 interview with Ms Higgins, in which she alleged he raped her at Parliament House in 2019.

Emails between Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) and David Sharaz were released on the Federal Court website on Friday as part of the defamation trial against Bruce Lehrmann, which concluded in December.

He was not named in the report, but claims friends and former colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.

Mr. Lehrmann has consistently maintained his innocence.

The defamation trial concluded in December and Judge Michael Lee is expected to deliver his verdict sometime this year.

During the trial, Mr Lehrmann's barrister, Steven Whybrow SC, had suggested Ms Higgins had lied to her boss about the rape because she feared she would lose her job.

He said she was found undressed in Parliament House after entering the building with Mr Lehrmann in the early hours of March 23, 2019, and was believed to have felt very embarrassed.

Bruce Lehrmann has taken legal action against Wilkinson and Network 10 in the Federal Court over her 2021 interview with Ms Higgins, in which she alleged he raped her at Parliament House in 2019.

Mr Lehrmann was fired for this on March 26, and Mr Whybrow said Ms Higgins was also likely worried she would lose a role she previously described as her “dream job”.

“It is not a binary position that making a false accusation is monstrous,” Mr Whybrow said.

“She's creating an accusation that would be monstrous if pursued, but there may be some merit in saying 'Bruce is gone' and offering an alternative to ensure your job isn't necessarily in danger comes.'

On another day of the trial, Wilkinson's barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC had asked why Mr Lehrmann had not messaged Ms Higgins to ask if she was getting home okay after they both ended up at Parliament House at 1.30pm on the night Ms Higgins claims that she was raped.

Judge Lee referred to the fact that Mr Lehrmann and Ms Higgins entered several rooms in Ms Reynolds' ministerial suite that evening.

Mr. Lehrmann said he grabbed his keys, made notes on the Question Time instructions and snagged an Uber home.

Ms Higgins said she woke up on the minister's sofa to find him allegedly raping her.

“If you had been with a single woman all night and she had gone somewhere, it was strange to leave her alone and not have to worry about how she might get home and wander off into the night.” , Judge Lee said.

“It's rude at best.”

Ms Chrysanthou said: 'Wouldn't you like to text her: 'Did you get home okay?'.'

She said they shared an Uber to Parliament House and asked why they didn't want to share an Uber house afterward.

“There's no point in him just leaving her there,” she said.