Saatchi tells Isleworth Crown Court in London that he never actually saw his ex-wife taking drugs, although he previously seemingly confirmed Lawson's alleged drug abuse.
- Nov 30, 2013
AceShowbiz - Charles Saatchi has admitted he never saw his ex-wife Nigella Lawson taking drugs. The art dealer was in court on Friday, November 29 for an embezzlement trial involving Lawson's former assistants Francesa and Elisabetta Grillo. The sisters are accused of using Saatchi's credit cards for personal use, spending $1 million on luxury items as well as first-class flights in four years, but the two alleged that the spending was authorized by Lawson to buy their silence concerning her drug abuse.
During the Friday trial, Saatchi admitted that the allegation made by the sisters was "compelling," but he never saw any proof if Lawson took drugs. "If you ask me whether I actually knew whether Nigella ever took drugs, the answer is no," he told Isleworth Crown Court in London, as quoted by AFP. He also said that he was "utterly bereft" his "private" email was made public.
An email from Saatchi to Lawson previously was presented to the court. The email read, "I can only laugh at your sorry depravity." He also wrote, "Of course now the Grillos will get off on the basis that you... were so off your head on drugs that you allowed the sisters to spend whatever they liked and, yes, I believe every word the Grillos have said, who after all only stole money."
In addition to the drug allegation, Saatchi talked about photos of his hand around Lawson's neck which led to their divorce earlier this year. "Let me just, while I've got the chance - I accepted the caution for assault. I was not gripping, strangling or throttling her. I was holding her head by the neck to make her focus. I wanted her to focus on what we were speaking about," he said, adding that he still "adored" Lawson despite their separation.
