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.

Disgusting. Vile little blackmailers and abusers.

Can't believe the verdict! It seemed to me that they had stolen the money, that plus CS's accounts are an absolute shambles.

Poor NL, I hope she knows most people are on her side. She seems like a very private, very decent person so this must have been immensely distressing for her.

Not surprised by the verdict. From the admittedly limited details in the press the prosecution never seemed to establish a case beyond doubt against the defendants.

I'm not saying I think they're innocent, just tha the prosecution never seemed to be able to prove their guilt.

I feel very sorry for Nigella.

I was pleased to hear this verdict. After following (at least some of) the evidence it just didn't feel like beyond reasonable doubt to me.

The jury probably didn't appreciate being dragged into a PR war between two very rich people.

I wonder will Saatchi pursue a civil prosecution, where it is on the balance of probabilities.

I can't imagine he is taking this very well.

They had good lawyers, who were able to show reasonable doubt about the fraud. I agree, nobody comes out of this well.

Very pleased with the verdict.The stress of having to fight these highly powerful people and getting the jury to believe them must have been hard.

Yes it must have been hard Yaz. I imagine the trips to New York, Paris etc and the designer clothes and handbags may have cushioned the blow. They took the piss and are nasty little blackmailers.

Well I can't imagine they'll ever find such cushy employment again. Who would hire them.
I really hope they don't sell their story to the tabloids, they've done enough to damage Nigella's name as it is.
It was her on trial here not them, the prosecution was a disgrace.

I told you so

I'm not sure a guilty verdict could be possible without evidence. The circus surrounding Nigella and Saatchi brings in far too much doubt.

Bet he is rubbing his hands with glee, I also feel a bit sorry for the Grillo sisters in some way. Regardless of being found not guilty, the hoopla will always cast a shadow and no one will ever truly know.

Something I genuinely don't get is, if Nigella does have a coke habit (its not an impossible idea) why would you use that as a defence? Surely using her money so you keep something quite is as bad as fraud.

I agree that it was all about CS and NL really - I'm not surprised if there was reasonable doubt as the whole thing looks a chaotic mess.
Hope Nigella is OK - I don't care whether she took drugs or not
I think CS is probably a bastard/ nasty fucker

Littlebear Take a Chill Pill!
The other Personal assistants were allowed to spend too.It seems like a very badly managed household.

Ahh dear. The prosecution case was shitty, the defence was shitty.

Only the other PAs said they weren't.

Definitely a lack of reasonable doubt than actual innocence.

Scrub lack of

I don't understand the verdict but I'm not surprised by it.

I think they took advantage of a situation that was chaotic. Expect tell all stories in the newspapers. But they still spent £600,000, an enormous amount on things for themselves. I'd be furious at my accountant!

Whole thing was a mess. Trial by media for Nigella Lawson. I feel desperately sorry for her, and know that whatever she was or wasn't taking, it would not have affected her that much.

It's a shame that all their money couldn't buy them a decent legal team.

The PAs may think they have won, but when their money, from selling their story to every grubby rag that will publish it, is squandered, they will be left unemployable.

Nigella has behaved with dignity throughout.

But Worldgonecrazy, Nigella didn't have a legal team, because, ostensibly, it wasn't her on trial. It was the PPS who were prosecuting the case.

I must say, I found a lot of the judge's comments very partisan, all this comment to the jury about people finding it very stressful, and his comments about the good character evidence suggesting it would tend to show they were less likely to be guilty.

Yes the accountant should be sacked. Either for incompetence or not having the balls to tell Saatchi that his monthly household spend was £x and was this as he expected.

There couldn't have been any other verdict, given the circus.

I believe everything everyone said is true in this charade.