December 13, 2013
LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron came in for some drubbing from a court judge in London for calling himself a fan of celebrity chef Nigella Lawson who is in the middle of a fraud trial in which she is a main prosecution witness.
December 13, 2013
LONDON: British Prime Minister David Cameron came in for some drubbing from a court judge in London for calling himself a fan of celebrity chef Nigella Lawson who is in the middle of a fraud trial in which she is a main prosecution witness.
Backing: David Cameron has revealed he is supporting TV cook Nigella Lawson in her public battles with her husband, but a judge in her staff's fraud trial has criticised him for his comments
David Cameron said recently that he was on "Team Nigella" – the name adopted by the chefs' supporters in the legal case.
Judge Robin Johnson from Isleworth Crown Court asked jurors to disregard the comments made by Cameron.
Calling himself a "massive fan" of Nigella, Cameron said "I've had the great pleasure of meeting her a couple of times and she always strikes me as a very funny and warm person, but I'm also an amateur cook and I like her recipes. Nancy (Cameron's nine-year-old daughter) and I sometimes watch a bit of Nigella on telly".
In response, judge Johnson told jurors "It is inconceivable that some of your number may not have seen these comments. The defendants feel aggrieved as the comments, although they do not specifically deal with matters in the trial, are favorable to Ms Lawson. The fact they may feel aggrieved is not without justification. You will realize that what public figures may feel about this case or a witness in this case can have no bearing on the issues that you have to decide".
Public criticism: Judge Robin Johnson today said that it was 'of regret' that David Cameron had commented on the row between Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi
Judge Johnson added "It is of regret when people in public office comment about a person who is involved in a trial which is in progress".
Nigella has recently been divorced from millionaire art collector husband Charles Saatchi.
Saatchi has told a Court in London recently that his former wife and celebrity chef Nigella Lawson authorized her assistants to blow up enormous amounts of money on his credit cards.
Team Nigella: Miss Lawson's team of lawyers, PRs and family who supported her as she gave evidence at Isleworth Crown Court
The assistants – sisters Elisabetta and Francesca Grillo have been accused of blowing up £72,000 on company credit cards belonging to Saatchi.
The sisters ended up blowing a whopping £685,000 on those cards, spending generously at Harrods and Harvey Nichols on purchasing luxury goods.
Charles and Nigella have been married since 2003. This is Charles' third marriage and Lawson's second.
Saatchi told the Court that it was Nigella's idea to give assistants credit cards.
On trial: Italian sisters Elisabetta (left) and Francesca Grillo who are accused of a £685,000 credit card fraud using Charles Saatchi's company credit cards
The Italian sisters lived a royal life, spending thousands of pounds on designer clothes and handbags from Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Vivienne Westwood.
Last week, Nigella admitted taking cocaine with ex-husband John Diamond when he found out he had terminal cancer.
Courtesy: Dailymail
