The boyfriend of Olympic champion Myriam Bedard told his theft trial yesterday that he was a good friend of the artist he is accused of robbing but never should have trusted his girlfriend's family.

Nima Mazhari says his biggest mistake was assuming Bedard's family was as reliable as she when they agreed to go into business together in Quebec City.

"They were not reliable people," Mazhari told the jury. "They'd rather spend their time riding on the bike paths rather than working."

Mazhari is accused of stealing 20 paintings by Ghitta Caiserman-Roth between 2001 and 2003 and is charged with theft and possession of stolen goods worth a total of $100,000.

The trial has been tinged with elements of a family feud as Bedard family members and friends of the Olympian have all testified of their dislike of Mazhari and his questionable influence on Myriam Bedard.

Bedard's father testified last week that he would never have sent an anonymous letter to Caiserman-Roth's daughter in January 2004 if he had been able to rekindle a relationship with Myriam, who had ignored him for a year.

The letter led to the criminal charges against Mazhari.

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