Amanda Donaldson is pictured arriving at Airdrie Sheriff Court this morning
A former personal assistant to JK Rowling has claimed she felt 'threatened' after the writer's husband demanded she pay £20,000 or face legal action.
Amanda Donaldson, 35, said Dr Neil Murray emailed her asking if she would pay the money to end a dispute over claims she spent thousands of pounds on luxury items.
Donaldson, of Coatbridge in Lanarkshire, worked for the Harry Potter author as a PA between February 2014 and April 2017 before she was sacked for gross misconduct.
The 53-year-old is using her married name Joanne Murray in the civil action at Airdrie Sheriff Court.
Rowling claims Donaldson wrongly benefited to a value of £23,696.32 by spending on a company card and taking Harry Potter merchandise.
But Donaldson has denied the claims and said Rowling has 'not suffered any loss and is not entitled to damages' from her.
Questioned by Rowling's lawyer, Kirsteen MacDonald, Donaldson told the court Dr Murray emailed after she had been suspended with an offer to make compensation.
Donaldson said: 'The email and the letter followed various communications and it was my perception that it was in a threatening manner.
'It did say pay the £20,000 and then you wouldn't be coming to court.'
The court earlier heard claims Donaldson had offered to settle the case but only if Rowling signed a confidentiality agreement. Donaldson has previously told the court she formerly worked for a top secret department of the Royal Navy before applying for a post as a PA she found online.
She has said she did not know Rowling was the employer when she applied for the post, and was five months pregnant when she was suspended. She also claimed her partner, a Harry Potter fan, had left her over the allegations.
Kirsteen MacDonald, representing Rowling, asked her: 'You said in evidence that Mr Murray emailed you to say that if you gave them £20,000 then this would go away?
'If that is true why is that email not in court? Is the truth not that you offered £15,000 to settle this but only if Mrs Murray signed a confidentiality clause?'
Donaldson (left) said Dr Neil Murray (shown outside court today, right) emailed her asking if she would pay the money to end a dispute over claims she spent thousands of pounds
Donaldson, a mother-of-two, said she could not explain the lack of emails but insisted she did have it.
Ms Rowling's lawyer Kirsteen MacDonald queried transactions made by the former PA at gift shop Paper Tiger totalling more than £2,000.
Referring to one receipt showing the purchase of five chocolate bars and a Harris Tweed purse, Ms Donaldson told the court they were bought as a gift for a contact to 'maintain Mrs Murray's business relationship'.
Ms MacDonald said: 'That is a strange combination [of purchases]. It is ridiculous to suggest that's what you would send to a business contact of Mrs Murray.
'Is it not the case here that you have again been caught out and this purchase was for you?'
Rowling (pictured) claims Donaldson wrongly benefited to a value of £23,696.32 by spending on a company card
The witness said: 'Absolutely not.'
The court later heard Donaldson insist she paid a £400 deposit for a staff Christmas party at the Michelin-starred Castle Terrace restaurant in Edinburgh where Rowling and her husband were regular visitors.
She said the cash was paid for the event in December 2016 and denied allegations she had kept the money for herself.
Under questioning, from Rowling's lawyer, Kirsteen MacDonald, Donaldson accused the restaurant manager of lying in an email to Dr Murray about the deposit after he had queried it.
She said: 'The £400 was handed over with the crackers to a member of staff but I didn't take their name. I didn't get a receipt.
'I thought it would be on the final receipt and it would be there but I didn't question it until after the Christmas party because I hadn't noticed.
'I wouldn't hand over £400 of my own money without asking for a receipt.
'I had no reason to put this much effort and thought into this until it was not on the receipt.'
Asked if the restaurant manager had lied, Donaldson answered: 'I know what my actions were, so yes.'
The former PA was also asked about the purchase of Halloween cards from Paper Tiger as well as chocolate letters spelling I, L and Y.
Ms Donaldson said they were bought for an ill child on behalf of Ms Rowling.
Ms MacDonald said: 'I put it to you the letters stand for 'I love you' and were bought for you to give someone you were in a relationship with, or for your own child.'
Ms Donaldson denied the claim and said: 'I recall the purchase as a whole but I don't recall the particular letters.'
Another receipt from Marks & Spencer was also shown to the witness which included the purchase of a tin of shortbread.
Ms Donaldson said they were bought as a gift for staff at the Savoy Hotel in London when Ms Rowling had stayed.
The author's lawyer asked if it was an appropriate gift for an upmarket hotel.
Ms Donaldson said: 'They really appreciated it.'
Previously giving evidence in her defence, Ms Donaldson said she was never given specific instructions for the use of the company credit card and that her boss was often unapproachable and not to be disturbed while writing.
Ms Rowling has said she 'does not accept' the claims made in court by her former personal assistant and took the unusual step of issuing a statement during the case.
Rowling alleged Donaldson spent £823 at Bibi Bakery, £1,482 with Jo Malone, £264 in Boots, £115 in Costa Coffee and £3,629 in cosmetic firm Molton Brown.
She is seeking damages for further claims she spent £117 in M&S Simply Food, £2,139 in card shop Paper Tiger, £1,636 in Starbucks and £235 in book store Waterstones.
Rowling also claims Donaldson stole Harry Potter merchandise worth more than £3,200.
It is further claimed Donaldson bought two cats worth £1,200 and also removed £7,742 of foreign money from a safe.
The civil case before Sheriff Derek O'Carroll continues in January.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/20/jk-rowlings-pa-tells-court-she-felt-threatened-after-husband-demanded-20000/
Main photo article
Amanda Donaldson is pictured arriving at Airdrie Sheriff Court this morning
A former personal assistant to JK Rowling has claimed she felt ‘threatened’ after the writer’s husband demanded she pay £20,000 or face legal action.
Amanda Donaldson, 35, said Dr Neil Murray ...
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Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/20/16/7669290-6516821-image-m-12_1545323505125.jpg
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