Mosley Denies Any ‘hint’ Of Nazi Behaviour

Max Mosley’s High Court case against the News of the World for defamation and invasion of privacy has begun with the FIA president telling the jury that there ‘was not even a hint’ of Nazi behaviour during his encounter with five prostitutes.

The 68-year old Mosley, who won a vote of confidence from the FIA to remain in his post, told the High Court: ‘I can think of few things more unerotic than Nazi role-play.

‘There was not even a hint of that – certainly not in my mind and, I’m convinced, not in the minds of any of the other participants. All my life, I have had hanging over me my antecedents, my parents, and the last thing I want to do in some sexual context is be reminded of it.’

Mosley also dismissed the suggestion that his sex life had nothing to do with his professional role.

‘If I was caught drink-driving, or grossly speeding, I think that would be, but things of the nature discussed are, I think, completely out of the scope of my work and have no connection to it whatsoever.’

Mosley also said the publicity had been ‘totally devastating’ for his wife of 48 years, and he could think of ‘nothing more undignified or humiliating’ for his two sons to experience.

The News of the World, which also posted video of the encounter on its website, argues publication was justified in the public interest.

Mark Warby QC, representing the paper, said: ‘The activities that went on here are not deserving of respect, however much they might have been kept behind closed doors.’

Cross-examined by Warby, Mosley said he had paid the five women £2,500 for the encounter, which he called a ‘party’, rather than an orgy.

But asked if he had done anything wrong, he said: ‘Absolutely not. I fundamentally disagree with the suggestion that any of this is depraved, fundamentally disagree with the fact that it is immoral. I think it is a perfectly harmless activity provided it is between consenting adults who want to do it, are of sound mind, and it is in private.’

Mosley said he had been having similar encounters involving ‘corporal punishment’ for 45 years.

It is Mosley’s case that before the story was published, he was not well known to the public and that it was, therefore, his name alone that had prompted the article.
 
Said his barrister James Price QC: ‘If if it had been about Bernie Ecclestone, it would not have been a ‘sick Nazi orgy’. Most people probably think S&M behaviour – spanking, bondage, whipping, role-play like doctors and nurses, sheikhs and harems, guards and prisoners – is harmless and private and even funny.’

Mosley has been FIA president since 1993 and his latest four-year term does not expire until October 2009.