By Glen McGregor, The Ottawa CitizenMay 25, 2009 12:06 PM

OTTAWA — The voice of Mayor Larry O’Brien was heard at his purported influence-peddling trial for the first time through a video recording of his 2007 interview with the Ontario Provincial Police.

A DVD of the meeting at the OPP Kanata detachment was played Monday on video screens positioned in the courtroom.

In the interview, O’Brien is heard to deny he told former mayoralty candidate Terry Kilrea he would get him a job on the National Parole Board in exchange for Kilrea pulling out of the campaign – the allegation at the centre of the purported influence peddling trial.

“I never offered him a job, period,” O’Brien is seen and heard telling two OPP investigators, with lawyer Paul Labarge at his side. “I never promised him a job, period.”

As the interview continues, O’Brien describes his first meeting with Kilrea on the patio of a downtown condo complex as a “big swinging dick contest,” as both men discuss their chances of winning the 2006 campaign.

He also told the police he was confused because Kilrea alternately said he was staying in the race, but also discussed how much his campaign expenses had cost to date.

As there is no indication O’Brien will testify in the trial, the video could be the only time of his version of the Kilrea meeting is put on the record.

Lawyers representing the Ottawa Citizen are appearing before the court Monday to argue for release to the media of the DVD recording and a transcript of it.

Follow the testimony online via Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/obrientrial or at ottawacitizen.com/obrien .

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