Whyte is ‘fall guy’ in unfair case, QC tells jury
FORMER Rangers owner Craig Whyte is the ‘fall guy’ in an ‘unfair and unjustified’ case, it has been claimed.
His QC Donald Findlay also told jurors in Whyte’s fraud trial that the businessman was being made to look like a ‘pantomime villain’.
But, Mr Findlay said the 46year-old was ‘manifestly’ not guilty of a crime in his May 2011 Ibrox takeover.
Whyte denies a charge of fraud and a second allegation under the Companies Act in connection with his Rangers takeover.
Mr Findlay was yesterday making his closing speech to jurors at the High Court in Glasgow.
He said: ‘A recurrent theme of what I will say to you is that the Crown approach is wrong, unfair, unjustified and unjustifiable.’
Referring to the accused, the QC said: ‘There have been attempts to portray Craig Whyte as a pantomime villain... that everything was fine until he came along. But, that is far from the truth. He is being made to be the fall guy.’
The court has previously heard how Whyte struck a £1 deal to purchase Sir David Murray’s controlling stake at Ibrox. Prosecutors claim Whyte pretended to the tycoon and others that funds were immediately available to meet all stipulated payments.
These included an £18million bank debt and £5million towards the playing squad.
It is claimed Whyte helped fund the takeover via an agreement with the firm Ticketus against three years of season tickets.
The QC claimed it appeared both Sir David and Whyte had been ‘ill served’ by their advisers at the time. But he added: ‘Was there a crime? The defence say that manifestly there was not.’
He pointed out there had been ‘no loss’ to Sir David in the buyout.
The trial has heard claims ‘nothing’ was spent on ‘due diligence’ into Whyte’s background before the deal. Mr Findlay said it seemed the Murray team had been ‘more focused’ on securing a sale.
The QC also said some involved in the Murray business knew ‘from a fairly early stage’ that there were other investors involved along with Mr Whyte.
And he told the court Ticketus knew ‘from the word go’ that its funds would be used towards the acquisition of Rangers Football Club and any element of secrecy came from the firm.
The trial, before Judge Lady Stacey, continues.