London (EFE)
The lawyer Adam Wolanski, who defends the emeritus, presented his arguments in the second of the four preliminary hearings that are held in the London court on the lawsuit that Corinna has filed against the former head of state.
Corinna -who did not attend the room this morning- accuses the former monarch of having harassed her directly or through third parties between 2012 and 2020, although the allegations prior to the abdication -on June 18, 2014- have been left out of litigation, after the Court of Appeal in England and Wales recognized at the end of last year the immunity of the emeritus while he was head of state.
The hearing is held in room number 13 of the court and the lawyer, as is tradition, wears a gown and a wig.
“vague” allegations
Wolanski mentioned today that in 2014 the emeritus asked Corinna to resume the sentimental relationship, but that she did not accept, something that -according to the plaintiff- was not well received by the ex-monarch and her attitude became “threatening”.
However, this lawyer argued that “there is no harassment” in such a situation, but simply a relationship that ended badly.
Thus, the lawyer was listing several allegations that Corinna makes of harassment and complained about the lack of specific data, such as, for example, if the emeritus was present in such and such a place or if the words that were used imply a situation of harassment .
The defense of Juan Carlos I also insists that some of the accusations fall outside the so-called “limited period” under the British Protection and Harassment Act of 1997 (PHA), which establishes that the alleged harassment must have occurred within a period of six years so that they can be subject to litigation.
Wolanski sets October 16, 2014 when the “limited period” begins to count, since, according to the parties’ documents, the original lawsuit corresponds to October 16, 2020.
Corinna’s defense wants trial
The defense of the emeritus hopes to question today the jurisdiction of the English courts to meet the demand and that it be rejected by the High Court of London.
Once the defense arguments are concluded today, it will be the turn of the plaintiff’s lawyers to present theirs Thursday and Friday.
Corinna’s representatives are expected to ask the court not to accept the petition of the lawyers of the emeritus – rejection of the claim and jurisdiction – and give the green light for the case to go to trial.
Corinna, for her part, alleges that the alleged harassment caused her anxiety and depression, as well as loss of income due to an alleged campaign to smear her.
The former head of state of Spain “emphatically” rejects that he participated in or directly harassed his ex-lover and considers the allegations made against him “false”.