Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

News

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Chris Huhne changes plea to guilty

372 replies

NicholasTeakozy · 04/02/2013 11:03

BBC link here. I reckon that's the end of his political career then.

OP posts:
Pan · 05/02/2013 18:32

just googled 'sub-judice'. It appears it remains currently in this case. Oh well. L

I'd take it that in a similar case the prosecution will argue that they had a mutual financial benefit for Mr A keeping his licence, as well as a convenience for them both re family and social life. And there is no 'evidence' to point to that Mr A coerced Mrs A. Just some circumstantial stuff that Mr A may well had a good motive to.

limitedperiodonly · 05/02/2013 18:35

No it doesn't look like coercion from Chris Huhne, pan. Just fuckwittery from two people you'd think would be quite smart when discussing skulduggery. And it's only the first day. Plenty more where that came from. And then Vicky's barrister gets involved.

They're having Wednesday off. Don't know what that's for. So the ladies can get their hair done, I suppose.

ladysoandso · 05/02/2013 18:39

Hope he goes down and she gets off scott free. When you look at the way he has behaved since she dobbed in him a year ago, you have to then ask yourself what he was like as a husband. He is a manipulative, sly, ruthlessly ambitious coward - of course he bullied her into taking the points! He would do ANYTHING to save his skin - right up to pleading guilty only once he was cornered. He would have happily seen her go to Holloway if he came out smelling of roses.

As for the sons texts - they are heartbreaking. The biggest clue lies in the one that says

'PH: "So nice to see our entire relationship reduced to lies and pleasantries in that letter. Do you take me for an idiot? "

So he was even trying to cover his ass about his affair by lying to his son. Who knows what went on behind closed doors? I can only imagine the hell he put them through. He is a world class liar of Olympian standards.

Pan · 05/02/2013 18:43

It must be really difficult to show you were coerced, when you were. If it is an inprisonable offence, she should pack her toothbrush.

limitedperiodonly · 05/02/2013 18:46

They were talking about Pryce's defence on the PM programme today linerunner. Helpfully I've forgotten the case they referred to. But it failed. The upshot was that it's quite hard to prove.

The only thing I do remember is that they were talking about this defence dating from the 1920s. What are the social and financial implications of divorce for a woman with a great income and prospects these days? She's never off the telly talking about the economy. How many other women in far lesser circumstances resort to this defence? Of course, if they can show she was under the doctor...

LineRunner · 05/02/2013 18:46

One thing I have learned from the MN boards is just how powerful emotional manipulation and coercion can be in a marriage / relationship, and how often it is not seen as such by outsiders.

Xenia · 05/02/2013 18:48

He should have divorced and then found someone else and he could have avoided all this. His choice.

"Huhne married Greek-born economist Vicky Pryce (formerly Chief Economist in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) in 1984 shortly after she divorced her first husband, with whom she had two daughters. Huhne and Pryce had three children together. In a video statement made during the 2007 Liberal Democrats leadership election campaign, Huhne described his philosophy about family life: "Relationships, including particularly family relationships, are actually the most important things in making people happy and fulfilled".
Talking about his wife to The Independent in 2008 he stated: "I also have a very hard-working and extremely intelligent wife, who manages to earn far more than I do."

An election flyer distributed in his Eastleigh constituency prior to the May 2010 general election included several photographs of himself with his family members, each image accompanied by a hand-written caption.

In June 2010, after being observed and photographed spending a night in his constituency home with a woman other than his wife, Huhne admitted that he had been involved in a relationship with Carina Trimingham and stated that he had decided to leave his wife, to be with her.

Huhne's wife and children were unaware of his behaviour and plans. Within one week of Huhne's declaration, Pryce filed for divorce on the grounds of Huhne's "admitted adultery". A statement issued on her behalf by London-based solicitors Osbornes said: "The events of the past week have come as a tremendous shock to both Miss Pryce and her family." Trimingham had worked on Huhne's campaigns for the Liberal Democrat leadership in 2006 and 2007 and was a paid staff member on his 2010 General Election campaign. She was press officer for Brian Paddick during the 2008 Mayor of London election, and is now campaigns director at the Electoral Reform Society.

imogengladhart · 05/02/2013 18:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

limitedperiodonly · 05/02/2013 18:53

The only thing that's safe to say is that a lot of lies were told in that house ladysoandso.

She could have been coerced and that's her defence and I'm not denying it.

But they were a team just like all us couples are. They had the addition of him being a Parliamentary hopeful and all that would bring for both of them. Who knows what that might make you do?

Mind you, if I was a multi-millionaire I'd employ a driver to ferry me between dreary constituency meetings whether I'd been banned or not. Chris Huhne is presumably a tightwad, if nothing else.

Pan · 05/02/2013 18:54

yes, LR, I was alluding to the broader issues of 'coercion' in rels. outside of this circumstance. How does a woman 'prove' coercion in other circumstance?
Given Vicky's position as a significant media and business figure, there's prob. not a good deal of bother being entertained about that, when the circus is being played out.

LineRunner · 05/02/2013 19:01

Pan (and legal eagles on here) I may be wrong but doesn't the prosecution have to prove their case, rather than Pryce prove her defence?

limitedperiodonly · 05/02/2013 19:03

The defence is open to her so she can go for it if she wants. If she can convince the jury that she felt coercion, no matter what it was, she'll be acquitted.

Bloody hell. Hark at Rumpole here Wink

Pan · 05/02/2013 19:09

No, I think that her taking the points has been established. She must convince a jury that her defence in doing that is credible, and reasonable in the circumstances. So her case depends on that. Like a defence to assault for eg is self-defence. You must show that to convince a jury.

Legal types around?

limitedperiodonly · 05/02/2013 19:12

That wasn't in reply to your question linerunner.

Yes, the prosecution do.

bunchamunchycrunchycarrots · 05/02/2013 19:17

I think the clue as to the sort of person Huhne is came from his response to being caught staying overnight with his now partner. I can remember thinking then what a ruthless bastard he must be when the 1st reaction to being caught was how to spin the situation so as to save his career. To make such a monumental decision to end his marriage without having a discussion with his wife or children, who were clueless 'til he was rumbled, made me Shock Ill read up on today's proceedings later but my initial thoughts on the coercion are that he strikes me as being more than capable of exerting pressure on someone to get what he wants.

Btw, it's good to see you posting again limitedperiodonly. Smile

Pan · 05/02/2013 19:23

All the prosecution have to show is that she perverted the course. Which is easy. It's too late to claim she was driving the car at the time. She has to say why she claimed she was driving at the time.

LineRunner · 05/02/2013 19:27

I think she may have a good chance with 'He's a manupulative knob' if it's an allowable defence.

Are we allowed to be having this speculative thread btw?

limitedperiodonly · 05/02/2013 19:29

Ooh thanks bunch

Pan · 05/02/2013 19:30

wrong italics there. It should have been why she claimed she was driving.

not sure re thread and our recent speculation. Best stop possibly. Or the big button will emerge.

LineRunner · 05/02/2013 19:39

I'll ask.

limitedperiodonly · 05/02/2013 19:40

You can discuss the evidence. There's been nothing dodgy so far.

Non legal eagle. Former court reporter. I've never been sued either. Not for a court report, anyway.

Pan · 05/02/2013 19:41

the absence of legal types on the thread could be a clue?Smile

limitedperiodonly · 05/02/2013 19:46

Nothing particularly dodgy, anyway. Keeps them on their toes Wink

limitedperiodonly · 05/02/2013 19:49

I think she may have a good chance with 'He's a manupulative knob' if it's an allowable defence.

I believe that is Vicky's defence. Are you sure you have no legal training?

LineRunner · 05/02/2013 19:52

I know how to shout, 'Run, it's the rozzers.'

Swipe left for the next trending thread