Taylor Swift: 5 of the most powerful quotes from her sexual assault trial testimony
Pop star said she wanted to make a public point that women should not have to endure unwanted physical contact
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Taylor Swift has won a symbolic $1 in a trial where she counter-sued a DJ for assault and battery after he attempted to sue her when he was fired from his job.
Ex-radio DJ David Mueller was accused of groping the pop star during a meet-and-greet which took place four years ago.
The alleged 2013 incident occurred in Denver before one of Swift's concerts, where she said Mueller reached under her skirt, grabbed her backside and refused to let go as they posed for a picture.
"He stayed latched onto my bare ass cheek as I lurched away from him,” Swift told the jury. "It was a definite grab. A very long grab."
Mueller has maintained his innocence throughout, insisting he only touched her ribs and may have brushed the outside of her skirt.
A photo taken of Swift, Mueller and his then-girlfriend, which was used as evidence, showed Mueller's hand behind Swift, just below her waist.
The pop star has been praised for how she has handled questioning from Mueller's attorney, which involved some sharp retorts when she was asked for details about the incident.
Here are five of the most powerful quotes from her sexual assault trial testimony:
1) When attorney Gabriel McFarland claimed that Swift's skirt did not appear ruffled at the front in a photo where the incident was taking place, Swift responded: “Because my ass is located at the back of my body.”
2) Asked by his lawyers if he had groped her more than once she said: “Other than grabbing my ass against my will, underneath my skirt, and refusing to let go, he did not otherwise touch me inappropriately.”
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3) She also refused to be bullied over the incident, insisting: “I am not going to allow your client to make me feel like it is anyway my fault because it isn't.”
4) She added: “I'm being blamed for the unfortunate events of his life that are a product of his decisions. Not mine.”
5) During her testimony Swift refused to criticise her bodyguards for not responding sooner and instead told Mr Mueller's lawyer that she was critical of his client “sticking his hand under my skirt and grabbing my ass”.
After the verdict, Swift also mouthed “thank you” to the jury, which was comprised of six women and two men, before they exited the courtroom.
In a statement, she promised to “help those whose voices should also be heard” and acknowledged the privileged position she was in by being able to shoulder the “enormous cost” of defending herself.
“I will be making donations in the near future to multiple organisations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves,” she said.
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