Wednesday, 4 December 2013

Hamilton's dad admits to living in Britain as a 'non-dom' for tax purposes, but denies fixing dates on emails in Di Resta court case.

Lewis Hamilton's father admitted he lives in Britain as a 'non-dom' for tax purposes, but, on an extraordinary day of evidence in the High Court, denied he falsified dates on his emails.
Anthony Hamilton, who pioneered his son's blazing entrance into Formula One, was appearing as a witness in his damages case for wrongful dismissal against Force India driver Paul di Resta.
The day started with Di Resta's lead counsel, Paul Downes QC, firing like a V8 engine in a relentless cross-examination of Hamilton - hostility that earned the lawyer a rebuke from the judge.
Anthony Hamilton has accused Paul di Resta of unfair dismissal Paul di Resta leaves the High Court on Wednesday
Revolving door: Paul di Resta and Anthony Hamilton leave the High Court after an extraordinary day
In a fiery exchange, Hamilton said he was domiciled in Britain for tax purposes only to be shown a form in which he had declared himself domiciled in Grenada, the Caribbean island from where his family hail. Non-dom status means an individual can potentially save money on income, capital gains and death duties.
Asked again where he is in fact domiciled, Hamilton answered: 'I'm domiciled for tax purposes in Grenada. But I'm accountable for tax in the UK because I live and work here.'
His admission was an echo of the furore that met his son's decision to move to Switzerland for tax reasons in 2007 at the end of his first F1 season.
Strained relationship: Hamilton was appearing as a witness in his damages case for wrongful dismissal against Di Resta - pictured here together in 2009
Strained relationship: Hamilton was appearing as a witness in his damages case for wrongful dismissal against Di Resta - pictured here together in 2009
Never did Downes wear his expression of exasperation more evidently than when Hamilton, an IT expert, first denied then admitted he knew how to fix dates on emails.
'Can you remember altering the date and time of your BlackBerry?' pressed Downes, referring to correspondence relating to how Hamilton  managed Di Resta. 'No,' said Hamilton emphatically.
The case continues.

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