Jury considers Becker verdict
The jury trying tennis legend Boris Becker over claims he failed to hand over his Wimbledon trophies after he was declared bankrupt has been sent out to consider its verdicts.
Becker, 54, is said to have used his business account as his own ‘piggy bank’ to pay his children’s school fees while concealing assets including properties in London and Germany.
He allegedly failed to hand over assets including trophies including those won at the 1985 and 1989 Wimbledon tournament, the 1991 and 1996 Australian Open and the 1992 Olympics.
Becker also allegedly hid around £950,000 from the sale of a Mercedes car dealership he owns in Germany, which was paid into his Boris Becker Private Office (BBPOL) account.
Giving evidence he insisted he did not know the full extent of his assets and did not set out to conceal anything.
The BBC tennis commentator said his affairs were handled by lawyers while other agents gave him bad advice.
Earlier today (weds) summing up the case the jury, Judge Deborah Taylor referred to Becker’s evidence in which described how most of his financial affairs were taken care of by others.
She said that Becker claimed never to have read the detail contained in the contracts he signed when endorsing products.
‘He told you he didn’t have the patience for it, he would trust the judgement of lawyers and advisors.’
She said Becker also gave evidence saying the possibility of bankruptcy never occurred to him, nor did anyone tell him it could happen.
Referring to his bankruptcy ‘he said at the time he was working hard as Wimbledon was on,’ said Judge Taylor.
‘He would start at 10am and be there until the last game had finished,’ the judge said.
‘He was so embarrassed that it had become public knowledge and there was added stress because he was having difficulties with his girlfriend.’
Becker, who appeared in 77 finals and won 49 singles titles during his 16 years as a tennis pro, has been supported throughout his trial by his partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro.
He denies 24 offences under the Insolvency Act relating to his June 2017 bankruptcy over a
€4.6million (£3.85million) loan from private bank Arbuthnot Latham for a villa in Mallorca.
The trial continues.
ends
