LONDON: Spain’s former king Juan Carlos on Friday (Oct 6) welcomed a UK choose’s ruling {that a} harassment declare introduced by an ex-lover can’t be heard in London, saying it “confirms his innocence”.
Danish businesswoman Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, who lives in England, sued Juan Carlos for damages of greater than £126 million (US$154 million) for private damage.
Now in her late 50s, she alleges that the previous monarch, who abdicated in 2014 and is now 85, prompted her “nice psychological ache” by spying on and harassing her.
However choose Rowena Collins Rice rejected the civil case she had introduced towards him.
“The Excessive Court docket of England and Wales lacks jurisdiction to do that declare,” she stated in her written judgment.
“I used to be proven no authority coming anyplace close to supporting an assumption of English jurisdiction over a foreign-domiciled defendant in such circumstances,” Collins Rice added.
On the identical time, Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn “has not sufficiently established that the ‘dangerous occasion’ of which she complains – harassment by the defendant – occurred in England,” the choose dominated.
The previous monarch welcomed the choice, which he stated “unsurprisingly confirms his innocence” and paves the best way for “additional public appearances,” in response to an announcement launched by his Paris-based publicists.
His authorized workforce stated the choose had “rejected wholly and conclusively the declare” and had described it as “speculative” and “weird”.
“His Majesty could be very happy,” they added.
“HARASSMENT CONTINUES”
The choose recognised the girl “has an account she needs to present of her private and monetary historical past with the defendant, and in regards to the hurt he has prompted her peace of thoughts and private wellbeing, and her enterprise, social and household life”.
Nevertheless, she added: “The one query for me has been whether or not the claimant can compel the defendant to present his facet of the story to the Excessive Court docket.
“My conclusion, as issues stand, is that she can’t.”
Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn stated she was “deeply upset” by the ruling.
It was “disheartening to see that victims of harassment usually battle to seek out justice in our authorized system,” she added.
“Intimidation and harassment of me and my kids continues and is aimed toward absolutely collapsing me.
“Juan Carlos has deployed his full armoury to grind me down and the attain of his energy is immense.
“I’m contemplating all choices,” she stated.
DOGGED BY SCANDALS
Juan Carlos, who’s married, was in an “intimate romantic relationship” with the divorcee from 2004 to 2009, showering her with items, in response to earlier court docket submissions.
Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn alleged that Juan Carlos started harassing her after their relationship broke down, utilizing threats, break-ins at her properties and surveillance.
Gunshots broken safety cameras on the entrance gate of her property, she claimed.
The couple’s relationship turned identified in 2012, when the monarch broke a hip whereas on vacation in Botswana with Zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn. He needed to be flown residence, sparking public anger throughout a interval of file unemployment in Spain.
Two years later, dogged by scandals and well being issues, Juan Carlos abdicated on the age of 76 in favour of his son, Felipe VI, who has now publicly distanced himself from his father.
He went into self-imposed exile within the United Arab Emirates in 2020.
Already in December, three enchantment judges in London dominated that his ex-lover couldn’t sue him for harassment within the English courts for the interval when he was nonetheless king as he had immunity as sovereign.
However they left open the chance that she may pursue him for his alleged behaviour after his abdication.