Former Energy Secretary Chris Huhne “coerced” his ex-wife into taking penalty points for a speeding offence, a court heard today.
Vicky Pryce denied perverting the course of justice over the incident in 2003, with the court hearing that she will argue “marital coercion” as her defence.
Huhne, 57, stood down from the Cabinet to fight claims that he wrongly told investigators his wife was driving his car at the time of the offence. He did not enter a plea today.
The pair appeared at Southwark crown court for a preliminary hearing ahead of a trial that is due to take place in October and expected to last two weeks. Wearing a dark suit and white shirt, Mr Huhne listened impassively as his former partner pleaded not guilty.
Mr Justice Saunders agreed with prosecutor Oliver Glasgow that there would be no reason why the press would not be allowed to report details of Pryce’s defence. Mr Glasgow said: “There is no secrecy the defence is marital coercion. I don’t see that there is any prejudice caused to the prospect of a fair trial… [if] it is reported she entered a not guilty plea and intends to advance a defence of marital coercion at trial.”
Huhne, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, and Pryce, from Clapham, are due back in court for another hearing next month. Huhne’s lawyers have made an application to dismiss the case.
The charges relate to events in March 2003, when the former minister’s car was allegedly caught by a speed camera on the motorway between Stansted airport and London.
However, accusations of impropriety only emerged in 2010 after the father-of-five admitted an affair with his PR adviser Carina Trimingham and ended his 26-year marriage.
Perverting the course of justice carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
