PRESS RELEASE
5:10PM 27/11/00
Sludgegate Update
Day 5, Afternoon

A Trickle, but Not a Flood

Adrian Chisholm continued with his struggle to give evidence this afternoon, offering details of this morning's allegations against the council over frequent objections from opposing counsel. Cross examination of Adrian Chisholm was imminent, and the court room began to fill in anticipation. It was evident that there were two varieties of public in the gallery - those who were there to support Chisholm, and those who were paid to be there by the council and its former insurers.

In yet another bid to restrict what the court hears, Council's barrister David Heaney admitted that the nine named officers of the defendant in this trial may NOT be called as witnesses - although he did offer the enticing prospect of calling himself to explain his involvement with the private investigator's report on Adrian Chisholm.

Wondering aloud why they would not be called, Chisholm's barrister Chris La Hatte indicated that if the nine named Council Officers were not called by council's legal team then he intended to subpoena them to hear what they have to say.

Despite these diversions, Adrian Chisholm was able to give an account of his attempt to acquire a copy of the PI Report on him, which necessitated him spending a night on Christine Fletcher's mayoral couch in order to acquire the report she had promised to give to him. We heard that Fletcher had "moves afoot" against her within council, and that she had difficulty in extricating the only then extant copy of the report from David Heaney's office. Chisholm alleged that David Heaney threatened to distribute a copy of the Report to every one of the council's seven hundred employees.

An overbearing cross examination was begun by council's barrister on this very issue, seeking information as to who supplied him evidence of the existence of council's PI Report on Chisholm.

In further news regarding evidence, Thursday's decision to rule out the so-called 'privileged document' has been appealed by La Hatte in order to have it admitted into evidence. A hearing on the appeal is expected soon.

Evidence was given of the efforts Chisholm's supporters have undertaken in order to subpoena and brief relevant witnesses, and of Chisholm's own efforts to seek and retain legal support. Witnesses such as Simon Upton, David Hay, and other senior public servants are likely to be called.

Cross examination of Mr Chisholm will continue tomorrow.

ENDS

For further information please contact: Peter Cresswell Sludgegate Media Coordinator (025) 861 927 e-mail: organon@ihug.co.nz

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