In another 'entertainment exclusive', I've been appearing in the High Court in Auckland as an 'expert witness' for the Crown, and specifically the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, who had declined to permit over 140 investors - in what was alleged to be a tax avoidance scheme - the opportunity to claim a whole pile of deductions. The promoters of the scheme, it seems to me as a layman, got away with it, whilst their investors cop the lot. Who said justice is fair? Or is the quality of mercy now definitely being strained, to paraphrase The Bard?

As it turned out, once the weight of the Crown's evidence was demonstrated the other side's legal team sought an adjournment so that they could consult with the investors as to whether they wanted to spend more money fighting a (presumably) lost cause. Time will tell. If not, I may still get to present my evidence! Nevertheless the theatre of the Courtroom was quite entertaining, especially observing the body language of all the participants - from the on-your-toes approach of Counsel, to the neck-scratching, head-in-the-hands actions of some witnesses. Must be a musical or play in this somewhere - or has someone already written one?