Colin Craig defamation trial: Former Conservative Party leader to take the stand

Colin Craig arrives at the Auckland High Court for his defamation trial brought by Jordan Williams. 13 September 2016 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Brett Phibbs NZH 14Sep16 -

Colin Craig is to give evidence at his defamation trial in the High Court at Auckland this afternoon.

The former Conservative Party leader is accused of defaming Taxpayers' Union director Jordan Williams.

Williams alleges Craig defamed him at a press conference, and then again in a pamphlet the former politician paid to have published and distributed to more than 1.6 million New Zealand households.

The allegation that Williams lied came after he took information given to him by Craig's former press secretary Rachel MacGregor to other Conservative Party members.

MacGregor had alleged Craig had sexually harassed her and Williams felt obligated to warn the other party members, despite her telling him not to disclose the information.

His aim at the trial, the result of a civil defamation case Williams brought against Craig, is to prove the information he shared about the then-leader was the truth and that he did not lie.

Craig has been seated in the public gallery for the first eight days of the trial, before Justice Sarah Katz and a jury.

But this afternoon he will move to the witness box and read his evidence.

Jordan Williams. Photograph/Facebook.

At 2.15pm Craig's lawyer Stephen Mills QC will open his case, explaining to the jury Craig's defence.

Then Craig will read his brief, which is expected to take at least an hour-and-a-half.

Craig will then be cross-examined by Williams' lawyer Peter McKnight.

McKnight closed his case this morning on day nine of the trial, which is set down for five weeks.

Rachel MacGregor arrives at the Auckland High Court to testify in Jordan Williams defamation case against Colin Craig 13 September 2016 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Brett Phibbs

The story so far - who has given evidence?

• Jordan Williams, which took two days to deliver

• Former Conservative Party chief executive Christine Rankin

• Former Conservative Party member John Stringer

• Jordan Williams' mother and sister

• Victim advocate Ruth Money

• Craig's former press secretary Rachel MacGregor

• Former Auckland City councillor Aaron Bhatnagar

• Lawyer Stephen Franks