an indisputable fact in indirect speech

[Richard]

A lecturer claimed something and I want to tell that, to my friend now:

Direct speech:
Lecturer claimed, "night is dark" (It's a fact, we all know, it is always dark)

Indirect speech;
1)Lecturer claimed that night is dark.
2)Lecturer claimed that night was dark.

Which one is correct?
Do we have to use just a direct speech in this case?

Direct speech:
He told, "I have a brand-new car" (It's a fact)
Indirect speech;
He told that he had a brand new car. (Is it OK?)
Do we have to use just a direct speech in this case?
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[Cerberus™]

There is no reason why you should not use indirect speech, both kinds of speech are fine. Whether to choose past or present in indirect speech is in principle quite simple: if the state of affairs you describe is true in the past, use past tense; if it is true in the present, use present tense. There are some types of clause that can be true in both past and present, in which case the choice is up to you, i.e. is not limited by syntax, but rather by less exact factors such as narrative and discourse. The choice is then between presenting a state if affairs as present or past; there are no exact rules for this, neither tense is wrong.

[Richard]

Yes...
Thank you. I really appreciate it.
and the links:
http://www.english-test.net/lessons/6/index.html
http://www.athabascau.ca/courses/engl/155/support/direct_and_indirect_speech.htm
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