Singer Leonard Cohen told how he “trusted” his ex-manager and former lover before they fell out spectacularly, as colourful and expletive-laden messages from her were revealed in court.

The singer-songwriter, testifying at the trial of Kelley Lynch on charges of harassment, said the pair were intimate on and off for a time during their 17-year professional relationship, which ended when he fired her in 2004.

“I hired her to be my business manager in 1988 or 1989, to take care of all the business ... I trusted her,” the 77-year-old star said on the third day of a trial at the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Mr Cohen fired Kelley Lynch in 2004, accusing her of stealing some $5 million (€3.8 million) from him while he lived in a monastery near LA. He sued her in 2005 and a judge ordered her to pay him $9.5 million (€7.2 million) − although the veteran singer, whose hits include Suzanne and Halleluhah − came out of retirement in part to rebuild his finances.

She has been on trial in Los Angeles Superior Court since last week on charges of harassing Mr Cohen and others with phone calls and e-mails. On Monday the singer testified against her.

“Leonard Norman Cohen should be taken before a firing squad and shot,” she was quoted as saying in one e-mail.