Image source, Getty Images

During the short break in proceedings earlier, Donald Trump did not stop to answer questions, but his spokeswoman and lawyer Alina Habba did.

She spoke with pool reporters in the hallway, attacking Judge Arthur Engoron and the concurrent hearing that was happening down the road in Trump's bond case.

She called it a "joke" and an "affront to the legal system", without taking any questions.

“The fact that we have two courts, not one, criminal and civil, being used against one man because they cannot beat him in the polls is a disgrace to the American judicial system," she said.

• Who is Trump's trial lawyer Alina Habba?

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Believe it or not, Trump actually had two hearings today, in neighbouring courthouses, here in Lower Manhattan.

The New York Attorney General Letitia James had challenged the bond that Trump posted in his unrelated civil fraud case, which concluded earlier this year, citing concerns about how it was filed.

But during a sparsely attended hearing today, Judge Arthur Engoron allowed the bond to stand after Trump's lawyers agreed to some stipulations from James' office.

It is a much needed relief for Trump, as he sat through his first criminal trial just a block away.

"This is a Biden witch hunt to keep me off the campaign trail," Trump continues.

He again emphasises his claims that the charges against him in both the criminal and civil cases in New York relate to instances in which he did nothing wrong.

Returning to the bond hearing down the street, the former president attacks Judge Arthur Engoron, arguing he "had no idea what was happening" and could not understand simple financial concepts but nevertheless issued a ruling that "shook the world".

Of the bond saga that followed Judge Engoron's ruling, Trump says "the deal was approved" so that he could make a $175m bond payment instead of settling the full judgement, but that Attorney General Letitia James "tried to embarrass a very good bonding company by saying they weren't credit-worthy".

Ignoring shouted questions, Trump walks away from the scrum of reporters as he exits the building.

Image source, Getty Images

The Republican nominee left the courtroom a short time ago, with his lips pursed.

Positioning himself before the hallway cameras outside, Trump said he believed the day had gone "very well".

"This is a case that nobody wanted to bring," he began in a lengthy retort, adding that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg also did not initially want to pursue an indictment.

Trump complains that the substance of the case "goes back many, many years", and that the DA is focusing on book-keeping when he should be prosecuting violent crime.

It has been a disjointed start to the trial.

After some general court housekeeping matters, we heard both legal teams give their opening statements.

Then the very first witness of the trial was called to the stand, David Pecker.

But he was only up for about 30 minutes before the jury was excused - one juror had a dentist appointment, so the judge decided the day was done.

Tomorrow, Pecker will be back on the stand to continue his testimony.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

We are done. "Thank you and have a good night," Justice Merchan says, before leaving the courtroom.

Court may be finished but we have plenty to unpack from Trump's day in court. Stick with us as we bring you the latest news and analysis on this historic trial.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

The jury has gone but the two legal sides are still in court, debating questions Pecker was just asked about his former employee Dylan Howard.

Defence lawyers argue that it is hearsay and irrelevant and should therefore be "stricken from the record".

But Joshua Steinglass from the prosecution says hearsay does not apply. He says it explains why Howard is not testifying in the trial.

Judge Merchan says he'll take it under advisement.

They are now discussing some other potential witnesses and evidence that could come up later in the case.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Justice Merchan interrupts Pecker's testimony to say it's time to "call it a day".

As a reminder, we're leaving early today because the Jewish holiday of Passover begins tonight, and a juror also has an emergency dental appointment.

The judge tells the jury to put the case out of their mind and not discuss it with anyone.

David Pecker just left the witness stand. As he walks past the defendant's table, he seemed, from my vantage point a few rows back, to nod in Trump's direction with a slight smile as if saying hello to an old friend.

He then exited via a side door.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is now having David Pecker explain the role of Dylan Howard, who was the editor-in-chief of the National Enquirer at the time of the alleged catch-and-kill efforts.

Prosecutors are setting up that Howard essentially functioned as a central node between Pecker, Cohen and Trump. They allege he set the hush-money scheme in motion.

Howard is no longer at AMI, and Pecker reveals that he lives in Australia and has a spinal condition.

He is unable to travel internationally, which likely means he won’t be testifying.

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

We are learning that David Pecker had a lot of phone numbers during his tenure as publisher of the National Enquirer.

After some prodding from Steinglass, Pecker was able to remember the last four digits of his work cell phone numbers - he had at least four of them.

They're likely doing this because prosecutors want to use text messages and calls between Pecker, Trump and Cohen to establish their case.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

Pecker has just said that he had the final say on whether stories were published at any of American Media Inc's (AMI's) publications.

He says that AMI would have regular editor meetings where the various tabloids would present their covers to him, and he would provide them feedback.

Prosecutors are likely working up to the "catch-and-kill" scheme that is central to their case.

Pecker is being asked about his phone numbers and email addresses. He's having trouble remembering all of them, though he's getting there in the end.

When prosecutor Joshua Steinglass says "this is not a quiz", Pecker starts laughing.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

Lead prosecutor Joshua Steinglass is now questioning David Pecker.

He started off with some basic biographical information, including where Pecker lives and went to school.

Pecker is now explaining his former role as chairman, president and CEO of American Media Inc, which owns the National Enquirer and other tabloid publications.

Image source, Getty Images

We're about to hear from the first witness of the trial, David Pecker.

He is the former CEO of American Media Inc, which published the National Enquirer tabloid in the period before the 2016 election.

Prosecutors have claimed that, in August 2015, Pecker met with Trump and his then-personal fixer Michael Cohen at Trump Tower in Manhattan to discuss using the tabloid to suppress negative stories that might damage Trump's presidential run.

The practice - known in media circles as "catch and kill" - involves buying the exclusive rights to stories but never publishing them.

One such instance of this campaign - porn star Stormy Daniels' claim that she had had sex with Trump - is what now sits at the heart of this criminal case against the presumptive Republican nominee for 2024. Trump denies having any sexual encounter with Daniels.

Pecker was previously subpoenaed in 2018 by federal investigators to provide testimony about Trump's knowledge of the hush money payments he made to Cohen, but it is unclear if he has been compelled to testify in this trial or is doing so voluntarily.

Donald Trump has returned to the courtroom after the short break and things are starting up .

We will soon hear from the first witness, David Pecker.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

Todd Blanche finished his opening statement with an appeal to jurors.

He asked them to listen to the evidence and use their "common sense", rather than be taken in by prosecutors' assertions.

"We’re New Yorkers. That’s why we’re here," he said before the break.

He reminded them that they were picked to be jurors because they promised to put aside their views of Trump's public persona, his presidency and the fact that he's running again.

"We trust you to do that."

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Before the break, Blanche zeroed in on another key witness: adult film star Stormy Daniels, the woman that Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to stay quiet about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies ever happened.

Blanche implied that Daniels has profited from telling her story, making “hundreds of thousands” of dollars.

He also invoked other legal dramas between the two. "I’m going to say something else about her testimony and it’s important: it doesn’t matter."

He said that she had no knowledge of the documents at the heart of the case: Cohen’s allegedly fraudulent invoices, or how they were paid or recorded.

"Her testimony, while salacious, does not matter," he reiterated.

Image source, Getty Images

The court has just entered a brief 10 minute recess.

Donald Trump left the room, followed by his team of lawyers and Secret Service detail.

Stay with us, we will bring you some fresh lines from what happened just before the break.

Phil McCausland
Reporting from court

The defence is focusing on tarnishing the prosecutors’ star witness - Michael Cohen.

“He’s a convicted felon and a convicted perjurer - he’s an admitted liar,” Blanche says of Cohen.

Trump’s former lawyer is “obsessed with” his long-time ex-employer, he claims.

Blanche notes that Cohen has two podcasts about Trump and spends much of his time now criticising the former president.

"He has talked extensively about his desire to see President Trump go to prison," Blanche says.

"He has an obsession with getting Trump."

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from court

Justice Merchan calls the parties up to discuss the latest objection, which he sustained.

A pack of about 10 lawyers, from both sides approach the bench and surround the judge.

From the audience, it looks like a scene from a 1950s courtroom drama: a bunch of men in navy blue and black suits, and two female attorneys, surround the bench and lean in intently as Justice Merchan’s shock of silver hair hovers above all of them.

Blanche and Colangelo seem to be discussing the matter with the judge, but it's impossible to hear exactly what they’re saying.

When they’re done, everyone returns to their place, and Blanche takes the microphone.