Redknapp shows anger at claim he told ‘pack of lies’
TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp admitted misleading a journalist over payments to his offshore account but angrily denied telling the court “a pack of lies” as his tax evasion trial neared a conclusion yesterday.
Redknapp, taking the stand for a second day of cross-examination, raised his voice at John Black QC after another increasingly tense exchange between the Spurs boss and the prosecutor.
Black concluded his questioning of the 64-year-old by saying: “I suggest you have been telling the court a pack of lies, Mr Redknapp. You’ve come to this court and twisted your account to get you off the hook.”
Redknapp, who denies dodging tax on sums totalling £189,400, shook his head and retorted: “You think I put my hand on the Bible and told lies? That’s an insult, Mr Black. I’ve told you no lies. I don’t do that.”
The confrontation came on the ninth day of the high-profile trial, which will end next week, at Southwark Crown Court. Closing arguments will be made today and on Monday, with the jury retiring to consider its verdict on Tuesday.
Redknapp and co-accused Milan Mandaric, the former Portsmouth chairman, deny two charges of cheating the public revenue over payments made into a Monaco account codenamed Rosie 47, after Redknapp’s pet dog, between 2002 and 2007.
Former Portsmouth manager Redknapp said he misled a reporter about the nature of the payments because he wanted to “get him off the phone” and prevent the newspaper running a story on him the next day.
“I don’t have to tell Mr Beasley the truth,” he said. “I have to tell the police the truth, not Beasley.”
The trial continues.