London, (EFE).- The lawsuit for the alleged harassment of Juan Carlos I of Spain against his ex-lover, Corinna Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, must go to trial because it is a “very serious case”, argued this Thursday the representation of the businesswoman in the hearing that took place this Thursday in the High Court of London.
This court held today – in room number 13 – the third of the four preliminary hearings reserved for the case, whose objective is to determine if Corinna’s allegations against the 85-year-old emeritus have enough “merit” to go to a civil trial.
Opinion after the summer
The judge in charge of these hearings, Rowena Collins Rice, is expected to issue her opinion after the summer holidays, but whatever her decision, it may be appealed – by the losing party – to the Court of Appeals for England and Wales.
The former lover of Juan Carlos I, who was present in court today, accuses the former head of state of Spain of having harassed her directly or through third parties between 2012 and 2020, either by allegedly interfering with her mobile phone communications or discrediting her through publications in the press.
recognized immunity
However, the alleged acts of harassment committed before June 18, 2014 – when the emeritus king abdicated – are out of litigation because the Court of Appeals recognized his immunity.
Corinna’s lawyer, Jonathan Caplan, insisted today on the need for witnesses to be allowed to testify in a possible civil trial so that they can provide their version of events.
For Caplan, the alleged harassment, although they have occurred in different countries, have a line of “conduct”, designed to control the plaintiff in some way.
The lawyer described the nature of these alleged harassment as “serious”, “sinister” and “very serious”, after listing a series of acts, such as the surveillance of Corinna’s electronic objects or of some people who work for her, as well as the intention to harm the integrity of the businesswoman.
Harassment of “a powerful man against a woman”
They have been harassment that has lasted in time of “a powerful man against a woman,” Caplan added, and recalled that there are “multiple” allegations that can be addressed in a trial.
“It is better that the evidence be heard” in the legal process, the lawyer pointed out.
Among the alleged facts, Caplan mentioned that between September and October 2018 there was surveillance and interception of the complainant’s mobile phone communications in the United Kingdom, while a hole was found in June 2017 in a window of a room at the Corinna country property in the county of Shropshire, in north-west England.
Between April and May 2020, there were attempts to gain access to the closed-circuit security system at that country property, while individuals working for Corinna were also subjected to various types of harassment, including surveillance or interference with telephone or electronic communications.
This caused “anguish” and “alarm” to the ex-lover of the emeritus king, explained the lawyer.
The defense asks the court to reject the claim
The defense of the emeritus, for his part, asks that the court reject the claim and considers that the allegations of harassment occurred in several countries, so that the English courts – in his opinion – do not have jurisdiction for the trial to be held in England, in addition to the fact that Juan Carlos I is domiciled in Spain.
Compensation of 126 million pounds
Corinna requests compensation of 126 million pounds (about 146 million euros) and alleges that the alleged harassment of the emeritus king caused anxiety and depression, as well as loss of income.
However, the former head of state of Spain “emphatically” rejects that he participated in or directly harassed his ex-lover.