‘Thorpe ruined by unholy trio’

Press, 16 June 1979, Page 9

‘Thorpe ruined by unholy trio’

NZPA London Jeremy Thorpe's “private grief and agony” stemmed from his misfortune in meeting Norman Scott at a time when , the former Liberal leader had homosexual tendencies, the Old Bailey has been told. Thorpe’s counsel, Mr (George Carman, Q.C., said that his client’s political life and future were now irrevocably and irreversibly denied to him. His frailties and weaknesses had been exposed: remorselessly to public gaze,; said Mr Carman. In his closing speech Mr Carman referred to the Crown’s three star witnesses as “the unholy trio.” Norman Scott was a liar and a scrounger, he said. Peter Bessell was the Judas Iscariot of British twentieth century politics. With Andrew Newton, the self-styled “hit man,’’ one had to guess when he was telling the truth. I On the twenty-fifth day of the trial the Q.C. spoke ofi “the life and times of Je?| remy Thorpe.” He made .an important and significant contribution to politics, said Mr Carman. H.e; displayed ability, enthusiasm! and unremitting dedication. “The British political; scene would be poorer •without men of that kind of ca-! fibre,” he added. Comedy was, never long absent in his life, but tra-

gedy had largely replaced it. Thorpe suffered the untimely death of his first wife. He had endured allegations against him being ventilated in court in front of his family, and survived pressures that “ordinary human beings” might not — but they had left their scars. Mr Carman said Thorpe had consistently denied any physical relationship with Mr Scott. Bu*. homosexuality was at the fringe of the! case, not the heart. He defended Thorpe’s decision not to give evidence and said there were many who were disappointed. “Those who most stood to! gain financially might be the; most bitterly disappointed of all,” he said. But not giving: evidence did not prove guilt. I Mr Carman said the) Crown had called evidence to discredit their own witness, Mr Newton. He suggested they were asking the jury to take part in an unholy parlour game of . “guess when Mr Newton is telling the truth, guess! when Mr Scott is telling the; truth, and guess when Mr] Bessell is telling the truth. I “And if you want a final! guess, guess how much; money they are going to •make out of the case on conviction.” Mr Carman attacked what ihe called unprincipled seditions of the media which • had “muddied” tfte clear iwaters of justice.