Katie Price told a court she 'won't have anyone call me a liar' in a tense exchange during her ex-husband's rape trial. Kieran Hayler, 39, is accused of committing three rapes and one count of sexual assault against a girl aged 13 between June and October 2016, while he was married to Ms Price. He denies all charges.
Price gives evidence behind screen
Ms Price, who entered Lewes Crown Court wearing a light pink top and purple trousers, appeared behind a screen as she gave evidence for around half an hour. At the start of proceedings, Judge Mark van der Zwart asked her not to "mention any beliefs you may have about whether Mr Hayler behaved inappropriately with anyone else". Ms Price replied: "OK."
The court previously heard that Ms Price had messaged the teenage girl saying she had been told that Hayler and the girl had kissed, and he had "tried it on" with her. Ms Price asked the girl, who is not part of Hayler or Ms Price's extended families, in a later message: "Did he kiss you? I won’t bring up anymore just want truth."
Cross-examination clashes
Asked by Hayler’s lawyer Arlette Piercy during cross-examination about the messages, Ms Price said: "I was so shocked... I couldn't believe it. I believe something's happened, otherwise I wouldn't keep going on about it." Ms Piercy said "I suggest you did keep going on about it", to which Ms Price replied: "Too right, it's disgusting. I never once went to the media about it, I never once went to the police about it."
Later, Ms Price accused her ex-husband's lawyer of "discrimination" and trying to "turn this case against me" after objecting to a question about her behaviour. Ms Price said: "He’s just a wrong’un, I know he’s done stuff with the (complainant), I got the messages. You shouldn’t turn this case against me. The real reason why we’re here is what he’s done to a child, not me."
Judge intervenes
In another exchange, Ms Price asked Ms Piercy: "Are you calling me a liar?" Ms Piercy replied: "I am." Ms Price raised her voice as she responded: "I don’t need to be here. You can see in black and white something’s gone on. I won't have anybody call me a liar." Ms Price was reminded on three occasions not to interrupt the judge during his interventions. Judge van der Zwart told her: "When I talk, no-one else does".
When Ms Piercy referenced an occasion Ms Price returned home and suggested it could have been one of her "cocaine and booze benders", the reality star replied: "That’s discrimination. Everyone knows I self-medicated on coke due to Kieran introducing it. You are wrong and trying to discriminate me. The press know it all because of my journey. I ended up in therapy and tried to kill myself twice. You’re not going to slander my name. I don’t care if you are a barrister, you are not going to slander my name like that. I don’t need to sit here like a therapy session." The trial continues.
