Thorpe Claims Repeated (Press, 18 March 1976)
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Summary: Thorpe Claims Repeated (Press, 18 March 1976)
On 17 March 1976, a court in Exeter, England, heard testimony from former male model Norman Scott about his allegations of a homosexual relationship with Jeremy Thorpe, the leader of the Liberal Party. Scott's claims have been reportedly denied by Thorpe. Scott served as the key witness in the trial of airline pilot Andrew Newton, who faced charges under the Firearms Act after a violent incident involving Scott. Scott accused Newton of attempting to kill him after the pilot fatally shot his great dane, Rinka, last October. Newton, 29, admitted to illegally possessing a pistol and to shooting the dog, but he pleaded not guilty to charges of having the weapon with the intent to endanger Scott's life. The prosecution alleged that Newton shot the dog and attempted further shots because Scott had been blackmailing him for over a year, concerning a photograph of Newton in a vulnerable state. During his testimony, Scott recounted that Newton had threatened him in the street, suggesting that he was in danger due to documents Scott supposedly possessed, which allegedly proved Scott’s sexual involvement with notable individuals. Furthermore, it was claimed that Newton had been instructed by Thorpe’s wife, Marion, to safeguard Scott’s life. When questioned regarding whether he believed the documents contained information that could harm the Liberal Party, Scott responded, “Absolutely not.” He explained that he had been sharing the documents to illustrate the pressures he had faced over the past 15 years due to his relationship with Thorpe. Scott had tried to retrieve a lost suitcase several times, expressing concern about its contents, which he suggested were linked to the past legal stigma surrounding homosexuality. Scott highlighted that he feared for Thorpe’s safety due to the implications of their history together. The trial for Newton is anticipated to continue for several days as more evidence and testimonies are reviewed.
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