KEY POINTS:
All Blacks assistant rugby coach Steve Hansen wants an apology from a lawyer who said he was one of several drunken passengers in a Dunedin businessman's car.
Greymouth District Court was told Hansen was one of several drunken passengers in the car being driven by Dunedin businessman John Evans near the Kumara racecourse at 10.30pm on January 7.
Evans was being prosecuted for drink driving but Hansen's lawyer said today the suggestion in court his client was in the car was a "damnable lie".
The story went around the world and Hansen's lawyer in Auckland, Kevin Ryan QC, said the All Blacks assistant coach had been besieged by English media.
Hansen is in England where the All Blacks are due to play England at Twickenham on Monday.
In court Evans' lawyer Rob Harrison asked the policeman who had stopped the car if he recognised the Hansen as one of the drunken passengers.
Constable Don Reriti said the vehicle was full of drunk and boisterous people demanding to be breath-tested but he did not take their names.
However, Mr Ryan said Hansen was never in the car and he did not know why Mr Harrison should bring up his name in court.
He said had Evans called Hansen in England to apologise today but Hansen also wanted an apology from Mr Harrison.
"It is a complete, manufactured lie. Mr Hansen was not in the car," Mr Ryan said.
Evans, 58, a company director from Dunedin, had produced a positive breath alcohol test but escaped conviction on a technicality when Judge Noel Walsh ruled the arresting officer had not allowed Evans to communicate with his solicitor in private.
- NZPA
