Taylor's Lawyer Opens Trial With Powerful Statement

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THE sexual assault case brought by Taylor Swift against radio DJ David Muellercommenced yesterday, with the superstar's lawyer, J Douglas Baldridge, heralding his client's bravery for taking a stand.

“Today Ms Swift is taking a stand for all women," he said in an opening statement,reports US Weekly. "She has been in tens of thousands of meet-and-greets, including going out in the crowds, and she never had this happen. If a person cannot stand up and serve as an example to other young women that have been sexually assaulted, then who can?”

The case focuses on a 2013 concert at which Swift claims Mueller - as per Swift's deposition last October - "took his hand and put it up my dress and grabbed onto my ass cheek" when the pair met backstage. Mueller denied any wrongdoing and promptly sued Swift for slander after the event, claiming that he was fired from his job at KYGO radio after her team informed his bosses of the event. At the time, Swift's publicist said that the radio station made its own decision after it had been informed. Yesterday, Mueller's lawyer said that the former DJ "is here to clear his name and he unequivocally denies he touched her inappropriately in any way".

At the pre-trial deposition that took place last October, a judge ordered that Swift's evidence be made public, although her legal team successfully argued to keep an image of the encounter being made public, stating that “it is all but assured that the photograph will be shared for scandalous and prurient interests”.

"This was an assault and Ms Swift reported that it happened. There is overwhelming photographic evidence showing what happened,” Baldridge continued yesterday as he held up a photo from the meet-and-greet in question. "The accused has an alibi, but he only came up with it two years later. He wants to make the victim pay the price, he is seeking 15 times what his contract with the radio station was worth in damages, and Ms Swift is seeking to show women [that] you can say no.”

The start of the trial has so far attracted many of Swift's fans to the streets outside the courtroom, as well as a plethora of media TV crews. Swift is due to give evidence later this week

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