Nigella Lawson has been described in court as a ‘habitual criminal’ as lawyers complained two Italian women accused of fraud were being used as pawns in the star’s messy divorce from Charles Saatchi.
Barristers representing Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo argued the case should not go ahead because of a ‘manipulation of the court process’ by the TV cook and millionaire art dealer.
The sisters are due to face trial accused of using a company credit card to buy themselves designer handbags and flights while working as personal assistants to the couple, who had a high-profile divorce earlier this year.
Anthony Metzer QC, defending Elisabetta Grillo, 41, and Karina Arden, defending Francesca, 35, claimed the sisters would not receive a fair trial because the two main prosecution witnesses were at ‘loggerheads’ and accusations of drug use damaged Ms Lawson’s ‘credibility as an honest witness’.
Earlier, Mr Metzer told Isleworth Crown Court: ‘The defendants’ case is that Nigella Lawson lied to her ex-husband about her drug use and about the expenditure that was incurred by the defendants, both expressly and implicitly, because she was fearful of Mr Saatchi’s reaction if he knew about the extent of the expenditure and drug use.
‘There was a culture of secrecy within Nigella Lawson’s marriage.’
Saatchi alleges that Miss Lawson was so high on drugs that she was unaware of what she had or had not permitted the sisters to spend money on.
After hearing submissions from both lawyers, Judge Robin Johnson ruled that the trial should go ahead.
He said: ‘I consider, with the right rulings and the ability to monitor the process of the court during the process of the trial, a fair trial can be achieved and therefore I have refused this application.’
He added that if it did go ahead, ‘it’s a convenient forum for Mr Saatchi and Miss Lawson to rehearse disputed issues between them… in the criminal courts where, of course, the possibility of libel is not possible’.
‘If Mr Saatchi is telling the truth, then Miss Lawson is a habitual criminal.’
The Grillos, both of Bayswater, west London, deny the charge against them.
It is alleged that, between January 1 2008 and December 31 2012, they committed fraud by abusing their positions as PAs by using a company credit card for personal gain.
