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CHRISTIE BRINKLEY and architect PETER COOK's divorce trial has been another emotional one with high drama as the model took the witness stand on Thursday (03Jul08). After Cook broke down during a cross-examination by his lawyer in Long Island, New York on Wednesday (02Jul08), it was Brinkley's turn to fight tears on the stand. The 54 year old told the court about the day she discovered her husband was cheating on her with a teenage assistant. Brinkley recalled then-18 year old Diana Bianchi's stepfather telling her the shocking news after she had delivered a high school commencement speech in June, 2006. The model, who was once wed to rocker Billy Joel, admitted she knew immediately her husband was guilty.

Fighting back tears in court she said, "I thought, 'Oh my God, it's true. He did it...' It explained the feelings I was trying not to feel." Brinkley recalled leaving Cook later that same day, admitting, "I drove away from my perfect life... I thought we were happy." The model also revealed more about Cook's Internet porn passion, which had been discussed in court the previous day. She revealed, "I found conversations of him trying to lure girls saying he would take them shopping, saying he would pay them if he could see their face. "I felt really stupid... I felt humiliated. I felt shattered. I just felt grief-stricken." But Cook was far from impressed with his estranged wife's emotional testimony, telling reporters during a break in proceedings, "Shrek was more believable than that."
Brinkley has fought a barrage of accusations she was "acting" on the witness stand during her emotional testimony in her divorce trial on Thursday (03Jul08). The 54 year old fought back tears as she recalled the pain of learning her husband Peter Cook was cheating on her with an 18 year old in 2006. But Cook's attorney Norman Sheresky insisted the tearful show was just a clever performance, reminding the court that Brinkley is an actress. The model responded, "I would call that a stretch... Really, I'm a spokesperson for products I believe in."

As the attorney continued to suggest Brinkley was acting in court, the model stated, "I'm no Meryl Streep. I was in a very successful film, National Lampoon's Vacation. It's 30 years later." Speaking outside court, Sheresky told reporters, "There should never have been a (divorce) trial and it shouldn't be public. "Since there had to be one, I think Peter should come off and does come off as the concerned father he is."
She however says she has forgiven the teenager who broke up her marriage, insisting she feels bad for her. After two days of high drama in her divorce trial, Brinkley held court with reporters in Long Island on Thursday afternoon (03Jul08) telling them she's keen to make peace with Diana Bianchi and her family. Brinkley learned about her husband Peter Cook's affair with his then-18-year-old assistant when her stepfather stunned the model with the news at a public event in 2006. But the model insists she has no ill-will for her one-time love rival.

She told reporters, "I'd just like to say, after two days of testimony, that I can't help but think about Diana Bianchi, and I want her and her family to know that I feel really badly for them.
"I feel bad for her and I forgive her completely. She was manipulated." Reports suggest Bianchi approached Brinkley's 20-year-old daughter Alexa Joel after both had testified on Wednesday (02Jul08), and apologised. A source says, "Diana said, 'I am sorry for the pain I have caused you and your family.'" Brinkley revealed she's glad of a weekend break before the trial commences again on Monday (07Jul08), stating, "Today was really difficult, reliving all the horrors." Brinkley and Cook are fighting for sole custody of their two sons Jack, 13, and Sailor, 10.