OTTAWA — On a summer Friday in 2009, Mike Duffy climbed into former Tory MP Dean Del Mastro's red muscle car and the two drove from Ottawa to Del Mastro's home riding of Peterborough, Ont.
An Ottawa court is hearing that Del Mastro took Duffy to appear at an hour- long fundraising event, before going on to other party functions in the area for the rest of the weekend.
Del Mastro told the court it wasn't the most successful event, but having Duffy there always generated a buzz and that's what MPs were looking for when they invited the former broadcaster to their ridings.
Del Mastro was among at least 74 Conservative MPs who tapped Duffy's star power and the latest to testify in suspended senator's trial on 31 charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery.
The issue around the events is whether the Senate ought to have paid the bills for Duffy to attend them.
The trial is expected to rise Friday for a three-week break.
