Hollander also took issue with his client’s cross-examination at the hands of
Paul Downes QC, representing Di Resta, effectively accusing him of
grandstanding. “Hamilton was cross-examined for three full days,” Hollander
said. “And it was nothing if not hostile.
“The questioning was incredibly intrusive with regard to his personal life,
his tax affairs, his relationship with his son, his father, his late sister.
It was superficially impressive but whatever Mr Hamilton said he couldn’t
win.”
Downes, who has accused Hamilton of falsifying evidence and lying under oath,
was even more scathing. Listing five reasons – his “formidable five” as he
called them – why he believed Hamilton’s case was flawed, Downes described
the father of 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton as “the worst kind of
witness”.
“Mr Hamilton made things up as he went along,” Downes said, recalling in
particular his evidence regarding how Paul di Resta earned a test drive with
Force India. “He is a very intelligent man. The problem is it didn’t come
off for him. He is left looking very unreliable as a witness. The worst sort
of witness – ones who invent things.”
Downes added that Hamilton repeatedly “avoided questions and argued” during
his cross-examination, describing his version of events regarding the Go
Fast deal as “bonkers”.
“Your Ladyship has got to approach his evidence with such caution,” he said.
“It must be corroborated. If it is controversial it must be disregarded.
That is the sort of person we are dealing with here. It [Hamilton’s
evidence] comes with a massive health warning.”
Downes asked the judge to draw negative inferences from the fact that
Hamilton’s legal team declined to call a number of “key witnesses” and
concluded: “As one goes through this story one is left with the lingering
impression that Mr Hamilton thought Paul and Louis di Resta were fools.
“He was prepared to take risks in certain areas because he thought they would
never work it out. He thought he could actually get away with pocketing
about three million on this and they would never find out because they are
too foolish. That is the only way it all fits.”
A judgment is expected in the new year.