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Mosley denies 'Nazi-themed orgy'Mon Jul 07 14:41:49 UTC 2008 |
Mosley denies 'Nazi-themed orgy'Mon Jul 07 15:31:59 UTC 2008 |
Motor-sport boss Max Mosley has said there "was not even a hint" of Nazi-inspired behaviour in a sexual encounter he had with five prostitutes. | Motor-sport boss Max Mosley has said there "was not even a hint" of Nazi-inspired behaviour in a sexual encounter he had with five prostitutes. |
| He is suing the News of the World for defamation and invasion of privacy after it used photos it said showed him in a "Nazi-themed orgy". | He is suing the News of the World for defamation and invasion of privacy after it used photos it said showed him in a "Nazi-themed orgy". |
| But Mr Mosley, 68, told the High Court: "I can think of few things more unerotic than Nazi role-play." | But Mr Mosley, 68, told the High Court: "I can think of few things more unerotic than Nazi role-play." |
| Earlier, his barrister said the paper had acted like a "Peeping Tom". | Earlier, his barrister said the paper had acted like a "Peeping Tom". |
| James Price QC said his client admitted using prostitutes, but the paper had committed a "gross and indefensible intrusion". | James Price QC said his client admitted using prostitutes, but the paper had committed a "gross and indefensible intrusion". |
| Mr Mosley alleges defamation and invasion of privacy by the News of the World, its editor-in-chief and other staff, and is also suing News Group Newspapers, which owns the paper, for breach of privacy. | Mr Mosley alleges defamation and invasion of privacy by the News of the World, its editor-in-chief and other staff, and is also suing News Group Newspapers, which owns the paper, for breach of privacy. |
| He is also making a claim, unprecedented in a privacy case, for punitive, as well as compensatory, damages. | He is also making a claim, unprecedented in a privacy case, for punitive, as well as compensatory, damages. |
| Mr Mosley said the publicity had been "totally devastating" for his wife of 48 years, and he could think of "nothing more undignified or humiliating" for his two sons to experience. | Mr Mosley said the publicity had been "totally devastating" for his wife of 48 years, and he could think of "nothing more undignified or humiliating" for his two sons to experience. |
| His barrister added: "This should not happen again and newspapers need to be taught that disregard of the rights of others does not pay." | His barrister added: "This should not happen again and newspapers need to be taught that disregard of the rights of others does not pay." |
| The News of the World, which also posted video of the encounter on its website, argues publication was justified in the public interest. | The News of the World, which also posted video of the encounter on its website, argues publication was justified in the public interest. |
| 'Basic human taboo' | 'Basic human taboo' |
| Mr Mosley is president of the FIA, the governing body for Formula 1 racing, and the son of the 1930s Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley. If if it had been about Bernie Ecclestone, it would not have been a 'sick Nazi orgy' James Price QC | Mr Mosley is president of the FIA, the governing body for Formula 1 racing, and the son of the 1930s Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley. If if it had been about Bernie Ecclestone, it would not have been a 'sick Nazi orgy' James Price QC |
| He was alleged by the newspaper to have played the roles of a concentration camp guard and an inmate during the sexual encounter at a flat he rented in Chelsea, west London. | He was alleged by the newspaper to have played the roles of a concentration camp guard and an inmate during the sexual encounter at a flat he rented in Chelsea, west London. |
| But Mr Mosley said it was a German prison scenario, with suitable uniforms, but there was no Nazi aspect. | |
| "There was not even a hint of that - certainly not in my mind and, I'm convinced, not in the minds of any of the other participants. | |
| "All my life, I have had hanging over me my antecedents, my parents, and the last thing I want to do in some sexual context is be reminded of it." | |
| Mr Mosley said his sex life had nothing to do with his professional role. | Mr Mosley said his sex life had nothing to do with his professional role. |
| "If I was caught drink-driving, or grossly speeding, I think that would be, but things of the nature discussed are, I think, completely out of the scope of my work and have no connection to it whatsoever." | "If I was caught drink-driving, or grossly speeding, I think that would be, but things of the nature discussed are, I think, completely out of the scope of my work and have no connection to it whatsoever." |
| Cross-examined by Mark Warby QC, Mr Mosley said he had paid the five women £2,500 for the encounter, which he called a "party", rather than an orgy. | Cross-examined by Mark Warby QC, Mr Mosley said he had paid the five women £2,500 for the encounter, which he called a "party", rather than an orgy. |
| But asked if he had done anything wrong, he said: "Absolutely not. I fundamentally disagree with the suggestion that any of this is depraved, fundamentally disagree with the fact that it is immoral. | But asked if he had done anything wrong, he said: "Absolutely not. I fundamentally disagree with the suggestion that any of this is depraved, fundamentally disagree with the fact that it is immoral. |
| "I think it is a perfectly harmless activity provided it is between consenting adults who want to do it, are of sound mind, and it is in private." | "I think it is a perfectly harmless activity provided it is between consenting adults who want to do it, are of sound mind, and it is in private." |
| Mr Mosley said he had been having similar encounters involving "corporal punishment" for 45 years. | |
| 'Sins of the father' | 'Sins of the father' |
| Mr Price said that to spy on a person's sex life was "disgusting" and "violates a basic human taboo". | Mr Price said that to spy on a person's sex life was "disgusting" and "violates a basic human taboo". |
| "The role of the News of the World as Peeping Tom publishing for the amusement of the millions sits uncomfortably with its self-appointed role as arbitrator of the nation's morals," he said. Most people probably think S and M behaviour is harmless and private and even funny Mr Price | "The role of the News of the World as Peeping Tom publishing for the amusement of the millions sits uncomfortably with its self-appointed role as arbitrator of the nation's morals," he said. Most people probably think S and M behaviour is harmless and private and even funny Mr Price |
| "It would be funny if it were not so terribly harmful to the News of the World's victims." | "It would be funny if it were not so terribly harmful to the News of the World's victims." |
| Mr Price said the trial was "not a forum to debate the evils or otherwise of Sir Oswald Mosley" - the founder of the British Union of Fascists - but argued that "the sins of the father cannot justly be visited on Mr Mosley". | Mr Price said the trial was "not a forum to debate the evils or otherwise of Sir Oswald Mosley" - the founder of the British Union of Fascists - but argued that "the sins of the father cannot justly be visited on Mr Mosley". |
| It is Mr Mosley's case that before the story was published, he was not well known to the public and that it was, therefore, his name alone that had prompted the article. | It is Mr Mosley's case that before the story was published, he was not well known to the public and that it was, therefore, his name alone that had prompted the article. |
| "If if it had been about Bernie Ecclestone, it would not have been a 'sick Nazi orgy'," Mr Price said. | "If if it had been about Bernie Ecclestone, it would not have been a 'sick Nazi orgy'," Mr Price said. |
| He said his client had been interested in sadomasochistic sex - or "S&M" - since "quite a young age". | He said his client had been interested in sadomasochistic sex - or "S&M" - since "quite a young age". |
| "Most people probably think S&M behaviour - spanking, bondage, whipping, role-play like doctors and nurses, sheikhs and harems, guards and prisoners - is harmless and private and even funny," he said. | "Most people probably think S&M behaviour - spanking, bondage, whipping, role-play like doctors and nurses, sheikhs and harems, guards and prisoners - is harmless and private and even funny," he said. |
| Mr Mosley has been FIA president since 1993 and his latest four-year term does not expire until October 2009. | Mr Mosley has been FIA president since 1993 and his latest four-year term does not expire until October 2009. |
| The case continues. | The case continues. |