The Grillo case (AKA Nigella & Saatchi)

[BerylStreep]

So the last thread on the Grillo case is full.

I have taken the liberty of starting a new one here for people's thoughts as the case unfolds.

Umm, math, I think 'really desperate to get away....' Would apply to just about everyone charged with an imprisonable defence.

These people were allegedly 'family', knew where all the bodies were buried their defence relied on how well they all knew each other and for how long and yet had no compunction about turning on NL when push came to shove.

Yes, NL herself was keen on going to court, presumably without fear of any mud flinging (maybe because as far as she was concerned there was no mud) but imo if you were faced with evidence of such a huge theft from you that is what you would consider the right thing to do, and maybe especially if you knew your husband's nature and realised what he had in mind for them was essentially indefinite peonage.

So I think 'desperate to get away with it' is especially true for the Grillo sisters, because they were faced with peonage otherwise, or being forced by legal means to repay what they stole and obviously will have a very hard time coming up with the money to do that, ever.

Heard on news earlier that CS was already bringing a civil case. Much as he's a vile apology for a human being I sincerely hope he wins it!

Me too, though it pains me to cheer him on.

Do you think the phrase 'Guilty as a Grillo" will catch on?

I doubt that CS gave a shit about the money, really. I reckon he just saw it as an opportunity to mess up NL - the woman who had had the temerity to defy him.

I hope she'll be fine career-wise (I have no doubt the she will be fine emotionally, in a little time).

I hope his money drains away like sand and he dies alone in a hovel.

Well, actually, I don't wish that on anyone. But I hope that everything he touches turns to ash.

I think if they had been found guilty we would have seen reems of 'stories' in the press re Nigella from a source close to the sisters. She may not think so now but this is the best verdict as they can just disappear

I'm amazed. I am looking forward to the analyses of the case in the papers tomorrow - the Grillos' defence seemed paper-thin to me. I bow to the wise MNers who predicted this verdict.

I can only imagine how utterly betrayed Nigella must feel.

But I agree this won't ultimately harm her career, but lordy, she'll wonder who she can trust in the future.

I'm sure she'll be fine as she's got out of a marriage which was not good for her. CS will be feeling pretty awful as he didn't want her to leave. I don't think he's wicked but I expect he's very difficult to live with and not an easy man.

I don't think the papers tomorrow will be much comfort, they have leapt on every opportunity so far to publish lurid headlines as though fact. On Tuesday after a day in court in which the discussions were about the number of mui mui frocks, Chanel bags and laboutins plus an ridiculously expensive trip to Berlin all the beeb reported was a claim about drug detritus being seen every 3 days. Sick.

I don't have any objection to people cooking their own meth (assuming they don't blow anyone up), growing their own weed, or whatever else, but coke is very nasty stuff that leaves a trail of blood across the world, and the 'dear darling Nigella didn't do a thing wrong' line that pervades these threads is more than a bit ridiculous.

I am not at all surprised at the verdict.
Could sort of see that it was turning towards a not guilty verdict.

Agree that cs wouldnt have cared about the money.

Still not convinced that she is going to be ok career wise. Maybe though.

the 'dear darling Nigella didn't do a thing wrong' line that pervades these threads is more than a bit ridiculous.

If the CPS would like to prosecute her for drug use that is a different case. The only evidence of her cocaine use was from disgruntled ex-employees who admit to never having seen her use it and her own admission of using it with her dying husband. Perhaps the CPS could go for a twofer and rope in Victoria Coren too?

No one likes being ripped off, no matter how rich. In fact, in some ways, it makes it worse. Sure he won't care that much about a few hundred k, but he will be furious about the abuse of trust. I would most guarantee a civil action to follow.

the 'dear darling Nigella didn't do a thing wrong' line that pervades these threads is more than a bit ridiculous.

Not so much that as wtf has the coke got to do with ripping off your employer for over half a million? And if it was a question of keeping quiet about it, that IS blackmail surely.

"Dear Nigella" wasn't on trial

Limited period said, on page 8, that if she had taken somebody for the best part of three quarters of a million pounds, she wouldn't have bought handbags.
I agree with her. A terrible investment.

Catherine1932 I agree. Obviously we have to bear in mind that we didn't hear all the evidence the jury heard, but based on what we know, it seems like an odd verdict. We know that the sisters had already sent an email to Nigella and Saatchi apologising, and offering to make it up to them, which is (I'd have thought) an admission of guilt. They then claim to have an unspoken agreement with Nigella that they won't reveal her drug use to Saatchi. But if an agreement is unspoken, how can you be sure it's an agreement? And if it had been spoken, then it would, surely, have been borderline blackmail. I can't help feeling there's a lot we haven't been told.

Apologising though because you spent on a card what you thought you were allowed to spend is another explanation and they refused to sign an admission of guilt their employers put to them.

From reading the live feed religiously (how sad am I?)a portion of the money has been spent on cash for the kids(£80 a day approx!), taxis for the family,trips abroad that weren't all proved to have been for the sisters, cash for workmen, cash to buy up Saatchi's book from stores, loads of other household stuff as well as cash for themselves. Saatchi didn't care, until now. Nigella didn't care at all (it was Saatchi's money, after all!-she might even have encouraged them to spend it such were the strange dynamics of their dysfunctional relationship!). Didn't care that is, until Saatchi started caring. The Grillos were given carte blanche for years, maybe Nigella couldn't remember what she had approved and what she hadn't, maybe the Grillos were worth a hell of a lot more to Nigella than she was paying them. Maybe the Domestic Goddess couldn't have cooked without them. Maybe she can't even think up recipes on her own and so was completely beholden to them!!! Wow. The mind boggles. I feel a tiny bit of pity towards them, there were no boundaries until Saatchi slammed the stable door after the horse had bolted. Why on earth didn't he just write it off to experience and forget about prosecution??? Hell hath no fury like an art-collector scorned I suppose.

"Dear Nigella" wasn't on trial

Someone needs to remind the press of this. Particularly the Daily Fail

which I know I shouldn't read

Saatchi didn't write it off to experience Grabagran so that he could shit from a very great height on his ex-wife.

Indeed the DM - the paper who published that Amanda Knox was found guilty by the court of appeal, when the verdict was not guilty, and published comments from all parties - that were MADE UP.