Model In Court Alleges Blackmail

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30151, 7 June 1963, Page 11

Model In Court Alleges Blackmail

LONDON. June 6 Christine Keeler. * 21-year-old model, drove tn a Rolls Royce to the Old Bailey. London's Central Criminal Court, yesterday to give evidence against Aloysius Lincoln Gordon, a 31-year-old coloured jazz singer, accused of causing her grievous bodily harm. After describing Gordon's alleged attack on hqr in a London flat she said she had earlier mailed him a £5 note “under a certain amount of pressure."

Asked by the Judge if sne would like to tell the court about this pressure, she said "Not really, because it does involve a friend of mine to a certain extent. I would say he was blackmailing me on this particular occasion” She also asked the Judg«not to have read out the contents of a letter produced in evidence The Judge said the jury would have to see it but he adjourned the case for five minutes while he saw the opposing counsel in his room

When the court resumed the letter was not referred

Asked by defending counsel

if she had had an association with Gordon, Miss Keeler said: “It depends what you mean by the word. He telephoned me about five times a day and threatened to cut me up ”

Asked about her earlier statement in a Magistrate’s Court that she had been friendly with Gordon, Miss Keller said: “1 thought you asked me whether I had been intimate with him and I saidYes. I had.’ ”

The case against Gordon, who pleaded not guilty, was adjourned until today, when Miss Keeler is to continue giving evidence Earlier Trial Miss Keeler was a key witness in the trial of a West Indian alleged to. have shot at and tried to murder her She failed to appear in court when the West Indian. 31L year-dld Johnny Edgecombe —who claimed she had been his mistress- j -was gaoled for seven years last March 15

Questions about her nonappearance in court were asked in Parliament But she later returned to London from Spain and apologised to a High Court judge. wh» ordered her to forfeit a £4i> bond.