Updated – 27 Nov, 6:41 a.m., GMT
The judge in the trial of Nigella Lawson's former personal assistants has ruled previous restricted bad character evidence can be introduced.
Court hears that Charles Saatchi believes Nigella Lawson allowed two aides to spend more than 򣌀,000 because she was "off her head"
Gordon Rayner
@gordonrayner
Court hears that Charles Saatchi believes Nigella Lawson allowed two aides to spend more than 򣌀,000 because she was "off her head"
Nigella Lawson alleged to have used cocaine, cannabis and prescription pills "daily" for more than a decade.
Gordon Rayner
@gordonrayner
Nigella Lawson alleged to have used cocaine, cannabis and prescription pills "daily" for more than a decade.
Of course now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you were so off your head on drugs you allowed the sisters to spend whatever they liked … and yes I believe every word they have said.
At the time of sending the email I was completely astonished by the alleged scale of the drug use set out in the statements. Nevertheless I did believe the allegations. I have been asked whether it referred to a belief that Nigella permitted the Grillos to spend whatever they liked. On reflection I was simply speculating the sisters would use this material to defend themselves.
The defendants in the trial are two sisters, Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, who acted as personal assistants to Lawson and her former husband Charles Saatchi.
They're accused of using a credit card given to them by the celebrity couple to buy luxury items including designer clothes and air travel for themselves, between January 1 2008 and December 31 2012.
The drug claim was called "totally scurrilous" by the prosecuting counsel, Jane Carpenter QC.