Updated on 04/09/2022 at 10:45 am
- Former tennis star Boris Becker was found guilty of several charges by the London jury on April 8th.
- In his bankruptcy proceedings, the 54-year-old is said to have concealed assets.
- Now he faces imprisonment. We answer the most important questions about the progress of the process.
Sometimes success and defeat go hand in hand: less than an hour’s drive from Wimbledon Stadium, ex-tennis star Boris Becker was found guilty on several counts by a London jury on April 8th. In process “The Queen v. Boris Franz Becker” the accused of delaying bankruptcy of the 54-year-old had been negotiated for days. We answer the most important questions.
Why was Boris Becker found guilty?
The ex-tennis professional has been on trial in London since the end of March. In the process, the 54-year-old was accused of delaying bankruptcy. A court declared him insolvent in June 2017. The London jury found Becker guilty of four out of 24 charges and acquitted all other charges.
The six-time Grand Slam winner is said to have concealed assets and withheld them from his insolvency administrator Mark Ford. The former professional athlete is said to have not given real estate, accounts and important trophies in accordance with the legal requirements. In addition, Becker is accused of intentionally transferring money to other accounts in order to prevent the insolvency administrator from accessing it
How did Becker react to the guilty verdict?
Becker followed the process with a red head, after which he did not answer any questions from press representatives and did not make a statement. During the process he was accompanied daily by his partner Lilian De Carvalho Monteiro and at times also by his son Noah.
The family seemed visibly upset. In the process itself, however, Becker had repeatedly and strictly rejected the allegations, arguing that he had neither the time nor expertise and always left financial issues to his advisors. Lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw also portrayed him as naive and lazy, and Becker was not informed in good time about legal obligations after his bankruptcy.
Does Boris Becker have to be in custody now?
There is a possibility of imprisonment. However, Becker must continue to tremble for three weeks – Judge Deborah Taylor will not announce the outcome of the proceedings until April 29. However, until the sentence is announced, the ex-tennis professional remains free on bail. Becker is also not allowed to leave the country until then.
What punishment does he face?
Becker could get up to seven years in prison. Compared to other cases in the UK, imprisonment seems likely. He could then most likely end up in the London prisons of Wandsworth, HM Prison Brixton or HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs. In the latter institution, celebrities were already behind bars: for example, the “Rolling Stone star” Keith Richards. In all probability, a psychological report would then clarify which security category would be assigned to Becker. An “open prison”, which one can leave temporarily, also seems conceivable.
Can Becker take action against the verdict?
Yes, there is still a small hope for Becker: Within a period of 28 days, he and his lawyers can appeal the verdict or appeal. However, the possibilities are limited: Becker and his team would either have to present new evidence or prove errors to the court.
If the “Southwark Crown Court”, before which the process “The Queen v Boris Franz Becker” is being heard, can be shown to have disregarded procedural rules, Becker can appeal the verdict.
Is this Becker’s first trial?
No, Becker came into contact with the judiciary several times after his career ended in 1999. In the early 2000s he was already on trial in Munich for tax evasion. At that time, however, he got off lightly: The process “The Federal Republic of Germany against Boris Franz Becker” ended with a fine and a suspended sentence – and a huge scratch on his image. In any case, the past should not have stood in the way of his lawyer’s current argument that Becker is a “hopeless case” in terms of finances.
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