After six days of intense questioning, the Crown's key witness in the criminal trial of Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien admitted he was the one who brought up the idea of a job at the National Parole Board.

Charges against O'Brien stem from allegations he offered to help Terry Kilrea win a federal appointment on the National Parole Board in exchange for dropping out of the 2006 mayor's race.

However, Kilrea testified Wednesday although he was the one who brought up the National Parole Board at a July 2006 meeting with O'Brien; he only mentioned it in response to a question O'Brien asked about other employment opportunities.

According to earlier testimony, Kilrea said O'Brien told him Conservative MP John Baird, who was then-president of the Treasury Board, was the one who could help him with a federal appointment.

However, when defence lawyer Michael Edelson asked Kilrea if the mayor ever represented himself as someone who had influence with Baird, Kilrea answered: "No."

Following the meeting with O'Brien, Kilrea previously testified that O'Brien called him within a few hours to say he had spoken to longtime federal Conservative John Reynolds, and his name was "in the queue" for an appointment to the National Parole Board.

Kilrea said he was then told to contact Baird about the appointment. However, when he approached Baird, the Tory minister said he knew nothing about it.

During questioning on Wednesday, Edelson asked why Kilrea never mentioned O'Brien or Reynolds in conversations he had with Baird.

Kilrea told the court it was because he thought Baird already knew about the arrangement.

Edelson also pointed out several inconsistencies Kilrea made in statements about the July 2006 meeting with O'Brien in a sworn affidavit, as well as interviews he gave to police.

Kilrea told the court he couldn't recall all the details that he provided about the meeting.

Edelson then pushed Kilrea to explain how he remembered only some of the conversations he had with O'Brien, but forgot others.

"I hope you're not making this up as we go along?" said Edelson.

Kilrea replied: "I would not say something that didn't happen."

Kilrea will get a break from testimony on Thursday to give Baird the chance to take the stand during a break from Parliament.

Kilrea is expected to return to the stand following Baird's testimony.

O'Brien was charged with two Criminal Code counts in 2007 following a nine-month police investigation into the matter. He has pleaded not guilty to the influence peddling charges.

Kilrea dropped out of the campaign on Aug. 30, 2006. At the time, he said it was because he lacked the proper finances. He was never given a federal position.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem