Paul Pisasale's extortion trial in quotes

'MORE THAN WORDS AND SEMANTICS': WHO SAID WHAT IN PAUL PISASALE'S EXTORTION TRIAL

"I really didn't want to say I was the mayor of Ipswich" - Paul Pisasale on why he told his alleged extortion victim, Sydney taxi driver Xin Li, he was a private investigator.

"He gave evidence, you might have thought, like the politician that he was" - crown prosecutor Sarah Farnden on Pisasale's performance on the witness stand.

"Paul asked me to do it ... It was a favour to Paul" - Ipswich solicitor Cameron James McKenzie, also on trial for extortion, to corruption investigators about a letter of demand he sent to Xin.

"He's a sucker for a damsel in distress." - defence barrister Lincoln Crowley on Pisasale.

"She had a husband. She lied to me" - Xin to Pisasale about his relationship with Yutian.

"It's more than words and semantics. It's about the destruction of a person" - Pisasale testifying about the emotional state of Yutian.

"To Paul, this might seem like a bit of fun," - McKenzie to investigators of Pisasle's alleged extortion bid.

"If we wanted to extort, it would have been more than $8000" - a defiant Pisasale on the witness stand.

"I'm starting to like her as a friend ... She's in the wrong trade. She's too nice" - Pisasale about his relationship with Yutian, an escort.