24 March 2023 , 20:58
1261
0
Gwyneth Paltrow has testified in the case against Terry Sanderson, who claims the star left him with permanent brain injury following a ski incident in 2016.
The actress, 50, and retired optometrist, 76, were both in court on the fourth day of proceedings, with the case expected to last eight days.
Ms Paltrow claims she thought the allegded collision was "a joke" and she heard a "very strange grunting noise".
Mr Sanderson is seeking damages of $300,000 (£246,000) for "a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries" in the civil lawsuit.
Paltrow, meanwhile has filed a counter-claim, and is seeking legal fees and damages of $1 (82p) for the alleged incident which took place in Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, in 2016.
Sherlock Holmes Museum boss wins fight to evict brother from home in 10-year row
Ms Paltrow began her evidence by describing herself as an “intermediate” skier and was familiar with the rules.
Gwyneth Paltrow testifies in court case (Sky News)Ms Paltrow reiterated multiple times that she had been skied into from behind by Mr Sanderson.
“My daughter was down the hill, my son was to my left, so I was skiing and my eyes were not fixated on my son when Mr Sanderson skied directly into my back,” she said.
“I was confused at first and I didn’t know exactly what was happening.
Gwyneth said she thought the alleged collision was "a joke" at first (Sky News)“It’s a very strange thing to happen on a ski slope. I froze and I would say I got very upset a couple of seconds later.”
She added: “(I thought) Is this a practical joke? Is someone doing something perverted?…my mind was going very quickly and trying to ascertain what was happening.”
According to Ms Paltrow’s deposition the pair had come “crashing down together” and their bodies were “almost spooning”.
"Two skis came between my skis, forcing my legs apart. And there was a body pressing against me and a very strange grunting noise. My brain was trying to make sense of what was happening," she said of the collision.
Ms Paltrow alleges the pair came 'crashing down' together (Sky News)Her testimony could last longer than an hour and is expected to mirror what she said in a previous deposition about how she "froze" when the crash happened.
"We came crashing down together. This man was behind me on the mountain," she said in November 2020. "My knee - and our skis - were still sort of tangled up. Our bodies were almost spooning and I moved away quickly. And my knee splayed open, and I was in shock."
Protesters planned to kidnap King Charles waxwork and hold it hostage
A member of Mr Sanderson’s legal team attempted to recreate the sequence of events in the court room, with Ms Paltrow giving her directions.
Ms Paltrow acknowledged that neither her ski instructor nor her children Apple, 14, and Moses, 16, had seen the incident and did not remember fellow skier Craig Ramon being on the scene.
Gwyneth Paltrow has disputed fellow skier Craig Ramon's testimony (AP)Mr Ramon previously gave evidence at the trial, in which he said he had witnessed the actress “slam” into Mr Sanderson.
“I did not believe his testimony,” Ms Paltrow said.
“I don’t believe he saw what he thinks he saw. He said he was 40 feet away and colour blind I don’t know how he can be positive with what he saw, especially with how much he changed his story.
“If you have two people in ski gear with helmets on and you’re 40 feet away I don’t know how you can discern who is who.”
Ms Paltrow admitted she was aware that if involved in a collision, skiers were required to leave their contact information.
The actress said that her ski instructor Eric Christiansen had left hers for her.
Gwyneth Paltrow denies she engaged in 'risky behaviour' (Sky News)“So because I was hit by Mr Sanderson and he was at fault I assume that Eric…who was there at the time, he said I’m going to leave all of your information, because my kids were waiting for me,” she said.
“I would not have left the scene without leaving my information and my information was left (by Eric)…subsequently I know that he did. I was not there when it was given.”
Ms Paltrow wore a navy skirt and button down blouse and occasionally drank from a glass bottle.
The alleged incident took place in 2016 (Sky News)Ms Paltrow denied that she had been engaging in “risky behaviour” on the day of the collision.
“I was not engaging in any risky behaviour. I would not engage in risky behaviour with or without my children being there,” she said. “I have always been open and honest with my kids, and they know me very well.”
On Friday, the court heard rumoured GoPro footage of Gwyneth Paltrow's alleged ski collision with Terry Sanderson might not exist.
Terry Sanderson is seeking damages of $300,000 (AP)Mr Sanderson's daughter, Polly Sanderson-Grasham, took to the stand on day three of her father's civil case and described how the incident had "consumed" him.
She said: "I think that with his brain injury, he really does become consumed with things, and righting this wrong for him has really consumed him and he wanted to make it right.
"He wanted someone to apologise, or acknowledge, or be held accountable for their decision on that date."
On day three of the trial, Ms Sanderson-Grasham described how her father was a "goer" and a "real positive influence", as well as being an experienced skier.