The Marketing Development Manager at the Department of Tourism and Leisure say he felt misled by Julie Corkill over invoices supporting a tourism grant he approved.

Derek Mulhern gave his evidence at the trial of the wife of former Chief Minister Richard Corkill today.

In a written statement, he explained he had only seen faxed copies of invoices which claimed to show contractors had been paid.

Mr Mulhern said under DTL rules no grants could be approved before the work had been paid for.

To speed up the process, Mrs Corkill had faxed copies of invoices and promised to send the originals.

But Mr Mulhern said he never saw the originals and later learned builders hadn’t been paid the sums shown in two invoices.

He said he had trusted Mrs Corkill because she was the chief minister’s wife, and now felt misled by her.

Mrs Corkill (pictured) denies four charges of false accounting and two of obtaining money by deception.

The trial continues.