Ivanka Trump testimony: Why 'I don't recall' is a common legal strategy

The four hours of testimony from Ivanka Trump on Wednesday could almost be summarised in three words: "I don't recall".

The eldest daughter of former President Donald Trump became the fourth member of the family to take the stand in a civil fraud lawsuit brought by New York's attorney general, who has accused Mr Trump of inflating his net worth to obtain favourable loans from banks.

The approach of the three Trumps before her, Mr Trump and two of his sons, Donald Jr and Eric, ranged from bombastic to humorous to visibly agitated.

But Ms Trump, who unlike them is not a co-defendant, had a different persona on the stand.

The 42-year-old maintained a placid, tightly controlled demeanour even as the tempers of the lawyers and Judge Arthur Engoron began to flare. Unfailingly polite, she smiled brightly at the judge and other court officials, answering questions in a quiet and sometimes monotone voice.

This was a "sharp contrast" to that of her father earlier this week, said University of Richmond law professor Cal Tobias. "She's not jousting with Judge Engoron or the attorney general's counsel, not making political statements, and is respectfully addressing the judge."