Thorpe’s ‘black Cloud’ (Press, 12 May 1979)
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Summary: Thorpe’s ‘black Cloud’ (Press, 12 May 1979)
Jeremy Thorpe, the former leader of Britain's Liberal Party, is currently on trial at the Old Bailey in London facing charges of incitement and conspiracy to murder. The case centres around allegations that Thorpe and three accomplices conspired in 1975 to murder Norman Scott, a male model with whom Thorpe had an alleged relationship. The prosecutor noted that instead of successfully killing Scott, a hitman mistakenly shot his pet Great Dane, Rinka. During the trial, a statement from Thorpe emerged, in which he once remarked that killing his alleged homosexual companion would be "no worse than shooting a sick dog." The prosecutor claimed this remark was made ironically. Thorpe, now aged 50 and previously regarded as Britain's most popular politician, along with the other defendants, has pleaded not guilty to charges that could result in a ten-year prison sentence. The jury was presented with a letter written by Scott ten years prior to the shooting, in which he expressed feelings about his relationship with Thorpe, saying, "Through meeting Jeremy; I gave birth to this vice! which is latent in every man." This letter was shown to Peter Bessell, a former Liberal MP and friend of Thorpe, who has been summoned to testify from his home in California. The prosecutor claimed that during a meeting, Thorpe acknowledged the letter's assertions as largely true, despite his denials of a romantic involvement with Scott. The court was informed that Bessell financially supported Scott with a weekly retainer from 1967 to 1968. The prosecutor further argued that Thorpe considered the situation involving Scott as a “black cloud” threatening to damage his political career due to its potential exposure to the public. The prosecution alleges that this concern led Thorpe to suggest that action needed to be taken against Scott.
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