Saturday, May 06, 2006
The Trial - Day 1: Prosecution Starts
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THE TRIAL
May 5 - The Times "Football director 'taken hostage and forced to resign at gunpoint'
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2165788,00.html
The Sun - QPR boss faces 'Sopranos'
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006200743,00.html
Day 1: Reports of May 4
The Times "Gunman 'ordered QPR boss to quit"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2164992,00.html
The Guardian "Football club director made to quit at gunpoint, court told · Jury hears scene at QPR resembled The Sopranos· Rival 'believed victim had threatened his family'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1767759,00.html?gusrc=rss
The Telegraph "QPR boss 'held at gunpoint'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/04/uqpr.xml
The Independent - Director of QPR 'had gun held to his head'
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article362089.ece
BBC- "Gunman 'ordered QPR boss to quit'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4972672.stm
Reuter - "QPR boardroom scene like gangster movie, court Told
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=footballNews&storyid=2006-05-04T122638Z_01_L04544719_RTRIDST_0_SPORT-SOCCER-QPR-COURT.XML&src=rss
Sporting Life "QPR DIRECTOR QUIT AT 'GUNPOINT'"
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/05/04/manual_132429.html&TEAMHD=soccer
Daily Mail - QPR director 'told to quit at gunpoint'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=385118&in_page_id=1770
QPR1st http://www.qpr1st.co.uk/main/newsarticle.asp?id=62
The Guardian, May 5, 2006
Football club director made to quit at gunpoint, court told ·
Jury hears scene at QPR resembled The Sopranos· Rival 'believed victim had threatened his family' Jeevan Vasagar
A football club director was ordered to resign at gunpoint by a rival following a boardroom battle over how the club's affairs were being managed, a court heard yesterday. Gianni Paladini, a director of Queens Park Rangers, was surrounded by hired thugs and forced to write a resignation letter after fellow director David Morris asked if he could "have a word", Blackfriars crown court, London, was told. "He was shouted at, slapped and punched by the group until he complied," David Williams, QC, prosecuting, told the jury. "He had no means of escape, and terrified for his safety, did as he was told." Seven men, including Mr Morris, deny conspiracy to blackmail, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence. At the time of the incident at QPR's Loftus Road ground in west London on August 13 last year, Mr Paladini owned a 14.7% stake in the club, the court heard. The director may have "ruffled a few feathers" since acquiring his shares, Mr Williams said. One of those he apparently upset was Mr Morris, who believed Mr Paladini had threatened him and his family in a phone conversation with someone else. "I don't know whether some of you watch television and see The Sopranos," Mr Williams told the jury. "This is like something out of a gangster film." He added: "It wasn't the sort of share or boardroom struggle that you might expect in business papers or newspapers. Quite literally, a gun was produced, and possibly another held to the head of Gianni Paladini." One of the defendants, Andy Baker, 40, of Petherton, Somerset, allegedly told Mr Paladini they were QPR fans and that "what they were doing was for the club" before punching him in the stomach. It was alleged that another defendant, Aaron Lacey, 36, from Watford, standing behind Mr Paladini, pushed something into the back of his head and said: "Let's kill him now, let's kill him now." After signing the resignation letter, Mr Paladini managed to break free and escape. Armed police burst into Mr Morris's executive box shortly after half-time in the game with Sheffield United and arrested him with four other men. In the executive box they found a screwed-up piece of paper apparently written by Mr Paladini in shaky handwriting as well as two bundles of cash totalling £7,000, which the prosecution suggested were "wages for the heavies' day work". Mr Williams told the jury that QPR had been in financial difficulties for a number of years and that its finances "remained precarious" when Mr Paladini got involved with the club in March 2004. The court was told he was an Italian professional footballer whose career was cut short by injury in his early 20s. He came to live in Britain before taking up a career as a football agent. When QPR were "desperately short of money" he introduced a number of potential investors to the club, including a former Brazilian international footballer who purchased £500,000 of shares. But relations between members of the board became "extremely strained" between June and August last year. There were rows about the catering contract at the stadium and about plans to redecorate the ground and the gym. The hearing continues. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1767759,00.html?gusrc=rss
The Press Association (PA) John-Paul Ford Rojas, May 4, 2006
QPR DIRECTOR IN SOPRANOS-STYLE ORDEAL, COURT HEARS
An Italian-born Championship football team director was ordered at gunpoint to quit his post and sign over his stake in the club, a court heard today.In scenes reminiscent of TV gangster series The Sopranos, Gianni Paladini was threatened by fellow Queens Park Rangers (QPR) director David Morris, a trial was told.Morris allegedly asked Mr Paladini to go to the chief executive's office at the club's Loftus Road ground for a chat before a home game, it is alleged. But they were soon joined by six other men, hired ``muscle'' said to have been arranged by security consultant Andy Baker. Baker told Mr Paladini they were all QPR fans and ``what they were doing was for the club'', before punching him in the stomach.In shaky handwriting the alleged victim, a former player and later football agent, wrote out a resignation letter, London's Blackfriars Crown Court was told. Meanwhile QPR chairman Bill Power, aware that something was afoot, went to find out what was happening in the third-floor office, the Crown said.But his way was barred, he was told, ``on the chairman's orders'', to which he replied: ``I am the f****** chairman'', David Williams QC, prosecuting, said.Mr Paladini finally managed to break free after his son Stephen, who had come with him to the game, found him ``highly distressed and in tears'', it was claimed.Stephen was said to have told the men holding him: ``You can't do this, it's illegal'', before being told he himself would be pushed downstairs and have his neck broken.His father was said to have run screaming from his captors, attracting the attention of a member of catering staff, who called for police via an open window.Armed officers arrested Morris in his executive box shortly after half-time in the game against Sheffield United on August 13 last year.They also seized Andy Baker, Barry Powell, Aaron Lacey and John McFarlane, along with £7,000 in cash, allegedly ``wages for the heavies' day's work'' and a screwed-up note apparently written by Mr Paladini.Earlier, two other defendants, David Davenport and Michael Reynolds, had been arrested as they walked away from the ground in west London.Mr Williams, opening the trial, said: ``I don't know whether some of you watch television and see The Sopranos. This is like something out of a gangster film.``It was against this scenario that Gianni Paladini was forced to write his own letter of resignation.``He was shouted at, slapped and punched by the group until he complied.``He had no means of escape and terrified for his safety did as he was told.''Mr Williams added: ``It wasn't the sort of share or boardroom struggle that you might expect in business papers or newspapers.``Quite literally, a gun was produced and possibly another held to the head of Gianni Paladini.''The jury was shown an imitation firearm which Mr Paladini said he was 99% certain was the one with which he had been threatened.Mr Paladini, who at the time owned a 14.7% stake in QPR, had arrived at the club in March 2004, with its finances in a ``precarious'' state.But despite attracting investment from the likes of former Brazilian international Carlos Dunga, Mr Williams said, he had ``ruffled a few feathers'' so that by August 13 ``there were those at QPR who wanted Gianni Paladini out''.With his ``fiery Latin temperament'', he would become upset when he felt he was left out of decisions, the court heard, although Mr Power tended to brush off his hot-headedness as ``bravado''.On August 11, it was claimed, Mr Paladini telephoned Phil Emmell, a business associate of Mr Power, threatening both him and Morris, and their families.Two days later he travelled to Loftus Road from his home in Solihull, West Midlands, with his son Stephen, married daughter Kate Mairoudis, and her son Gianluca, who was due to be the club mascot that day.It was while they enjoyed pre-match hospitality in the chairman's suite that Mr Paladini was said to have been lured away by Morris. Baker, 40, of Bridgewater Road, North Petherton, Somerset; Morris, 50, of Doggetts Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks; Powell, 34, of Nicholas Close, Greenford, Middlesex; Lacey, 36, from Crossmead, Watford; McFarlane, 39, of Fairholme Crescent, Hayes, Middlesex; Davenport, 38, of Cowper Road, Chesham, Bucks; and Reynolds, 45, of Palace Gates Road, Wood Green, north London, all deny conspiracy to blackmail, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.Tomorrow, members of the jury are due to visit Loftus Road where the events are alleged to have taken place. (Press Association, May 4)
The Times May 4, 2006 QPR director 'forced to resign at gunpoint'By Philippe Naughton A former Italian football international was forced at gunpoint to sign a letter resigning from the board of Queens Park Rangers in a scene like "something out of a gangster film," a court heard today. Gianni Paladini, who used to play for Juventus and Napoli, was asked if he could "have a word" by David Morris, a fellow director, as the men prepared to watch the Championship club's first home game of this season. But he soon found himself surrounded by hired thugs and forced to write out a resignation letter, London’s Blackfriars Crown Court was told. David Williams, QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "I don’t know whether some of you watch television and see The Sopranos. This is like something out of a gangster film. "It was against this scenario that Gianni Paladini was forced to write his own letter of resignation. He was shouted at, slapped and punched by the group until he complied. He had no means of escape and terrified for his safety did as he was told." Mr Williams added: "It wasn’t the sort of share or boardroom struggle that you might expect in business papers or newspapers.Quite literally, a gun was produced and possibly another held to the head of Gianni Paladini." At the time of the incident at QPR’s Loftus Road ground on August 13 last year, Mr Paladini, a former Fifa-accredited agent, owned a 14.7-per cent sake in the club, the court heard. He has since become its chairman. While he was being held, the court heard, the club chairman Bill Power, who was aware that "something untoward" was occurring, went to find out what was happening but was blocked by a group of men who claimed to be acting "on the chairman’s orders". Mr Power told them: "I am the f***ing chairman", but he was still not allowed to pass. The court heard that Mr Paladini who had been asked to quit his position on the board of directors and surrender his shares, eventually managed to break free from his captors and ran screaming from them. A member of catering staff was said to have called out of an open window to alert the police. Armed officers burst into Mr Morris’s executive box shortly after half-time in the game with Sheffield United and arrested him along with fellow defendants Andy Baker, Barry Powell, Aaron Lacey and John McFarlane. In the executive box they found a screwed-up piece of paper apparently written by Mr Paladini in shaky handwriting as well as two bundles of cash totalling £7,000 which the Crown suggested were "wages for the heavies’ day work". Earlier, two other defendants David Davenport and Michael Reynolds were arrested walking away from the ground. Mr Williams said that Mr Baker was a security consultant who provided "muscle" for Mr Morris. All seven deny conspiracy to blackmail, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence. Mr Williams told the court: "It may well be that Gianni Paladini had ruffled a few feathers since acquiring his shares in QPR and one of those he had upset appears to have been David Morris, recently appointed to the board himself, having lent financial support to the club’s ailing finances over a number of years. "It seems that the catalyst, triggered perhaps, for the events of August 13th was the culmination of a number of disputes over how the club’s affairs were being managed as a result of which David Morris, rightly or wrongly, perceived that Paladini had made threats against himself and his family over the telephone during an argument with someone else. "Whatever the reasons, by August 13 last year, there were those at QPR who wanted Gianni Paladini out and the chief amongst those people was David Morris." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2164992,00.html
The Times, May 5 - Steve Bird
Football director 'taken hostage and forced to resign at gunpoint'
A MILLIONAIRE director of Queens Park Rangers Football Club was taken hostage with a gun held to his head and forced to write a resignation letter during a violent boardroom ordeal, a jury was told yesterday. In a scene reminiscent of the gangster television series The Sopranos, Gianni Paladini was said to have been punched and slapped by a gang of five “heavies” hired by David Morris, a director of the club. Blackfriars Crown Court was told that Mr Morris, 50, had wanted the 59-year-old Italian businessman to relinquish his control and give up his majority shareholding of the West London club. The attack culminated in armed police descending on the stadium at half-time during a match against Sheffield United, and raiding one of the executive boxes to arrest the gang, it was said. As Mr Morris sat in the dock yesterday with six co-defendants and a row of security staff, David Williams, QC, for the prosecution, said that Mr Morris had “hired muscle” to force out Mr Paladini. Opening the case, he said that Mr Paladini, who had bought a controlling stake in the club with £600,000 of shares, had “ruffled feathers” with his fiery Latin temperament. The team were suffering from serious financial problems and languishing in the Coca-Cola Championship division. The attack took place in the chief executive’s office at QPR’s Loftus Road stadium minutes before the kick-off, Mr Williams said. “This was no classic boardroom struggle at a football club of the type with which you might be familiar from the business papers or sports newspapers,” he said. “A gun was produced and possibly another held to the head of Gianni Paladini, who then owned a 14.7 per cent stake in the club. At the dictation of Mr Morris, a co-director, he was forced to write out a letter of resignation and to sign two documents. To ensure he did so he was intimidated by the presence of hired muscle provided by Andy Baker.” Mr Morris, of Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire; Mr Baker, 38, of North Petherton, Somerset; Aaron Lacey, 37, of Watford; John McFarlane, 39, of Hayes, London; Barry Lee Powell, 34, of Greenford, London; Michael Reynolds, 45, of Wood Green, London; and David Davenport, 38, of Chesham, Buckinghamshire, all deny possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, false imprisonment and conspiracy to blackmail in August last year. The court was told that Mr Morris had asked Mr Paladini for a chat in the chief executive’s office. There, Mr Williams said, six “muscle men” burst in. Mr Baker punched Mr Paladini in the stomach and said that the men were QPR fans and “what they were doing was best for the club”. “A gun was produced, whether real or imitation we cannot say,” Mr Williams said, comparing what happened to a scene from The Sopranos. “It was pointed at Mr Paladini before being placed on the table in front of him. From the rear he could feel something being pushed at the back of his head. He was never in a position to see if that was a gun or not, but understandably feared that it was. “It was against this scene Gianni Paladini was forced to write his letter of resignation. He was shouted at, slapped and punched by the group until he complied. He had no means of escape and, terrified for his safety, did as he was told.” Mr Morris was said to have shouted at him, “Sign there, sign now”, while one of the gang said: “Let’s kill him now.” At one point Bill Power, then the chairman, was barred from entering the office by a heavily built man who claimed that the chairman had ordered that no one should enter. Mr Power replied: “I am the f*****g chairman.” He added: “It looks like the lunatics have taken over the asylum.” Inside the room Mr Paladini was told that his shares would be paid into his bank and that he and his family should never return to the ground, the court was told. As he was escorted from the office his son, Stephen, emerged and saw his father in tears. One of the gang was heard to say to Stephen Paladini: “If you say another word I’ll break your neck. I’ll push you down the stairs. I’ve told you not to talk to me, not to look at me.” Moments later Mr Paladini broke free and began screaming hysterically and police were alerted as the gang fled. Armed police evacuated guests from executive boxes at half-time. They then burst in and arrested Mr Morris, Mr McFarlane, Mr Baker, Mr Powell and Mr Lacey. In the box they found a piece of paper with an uncompleted resignation letter in shaky handwriting and £7,000 in cash, which Mr Williams said was payment for the “hired muscle”. Mr Davenport and Mr Reynolds were arrested walking from the ground. Mr Davenport’s car was found to contain a blank-firing 8mm handgun. Mr Morris’s brother, Daniel, was said to have played a significant role in the incident. He is still being sought by police. The trial is expected to last four weeks.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2165788,00.html
See Links to other news reports at http://www.ontrial.blogspot.com/
THE TRIAL
May 5 - The Times "Football director 'taken hostage and forced to resign at gunpoint'
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2165788,00.html
The Sun - QPR boss faces 'Sopranos'
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006200743,00.html
Day 1: Reports of May 4
The Times "Gunman 'ordered QPR boss to quit"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2164992,00.html
The Guardian "Football club director made to quit at gunpoint, court told · Jury hears scene at QPR resembled The Sopranos· Rival 'believed victim had threatened his family'
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1767759,00.html?gusrc=rss
The Telegraph "QPR boss 'held at gunpoint'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/04/uqpr.xml
The Independent - Director of QPR 'had gun held to his head'
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article362089.ece
BBC- "Gunman 'ordered QPR boss to quit'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4972672.stm
Reuter - "QPR boardroom scene like gangster movie, court Told
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=footballNews&storyid=2006-05-04T122638Z_01_L04544719_RTRIDST_0_SPORT-SOCCER-QPR-COURT.XML&src=rss
Sporting Life "QPR DIRECTOR QUIT AT 'GUNPOINT'"
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/06/05/04/manual_132429.html&TEAMHD=soccer
Daily Mail - QPR director 'told to quit at gunpoint'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=385118&in_page_id=1770
QPR1st http://www.qpr1st.co.uk/main/newsarticle.asp?id=62
The Guardian, May 5, 2006
Football club director made to quit at gunpoint, court told ·
Jury hears scene at QPR resembled The Sopranos· Rival 'believed victim had threatened his family' Jeevan Vasagar
A football club director was ordered to resign at gunpoint by a rival following a boardroom battle over how the club's affairs were being managed, a court heard yesterday. Gianni Paladini, a director of Queens Park Rangers, was surrounded by hired thugs and forced to write a resignation letter after fellow director David Morris asked if he could "have a word", Blackfriars crown court, London, was told. "He was shouted at, slapped and punched by the group until he complied," David Williams, QC, prosecuting, told the jury. "He had no means of escape, and terrified for his safety, did as he was told." Seven men, including Mr Morris, deny conspiracy to blackmail, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence. At the time of the incident at QPR's Loftus Road ground in west London on August 13 last year, Mr Paladini owned a 14.7% stake in the club, the court heard. The director may have "ruffled a few feathers" since acquiring his shares, Mr Williams said. One of those he apparently upset was Mr Morris, who believed Mr Paladini had threatened him and his family in a phone conversation with someone else. "I don't know whether some of you watch television and see The Sopranos," Mr Williams told the jury. "This is like something out of a gangster film." He added: "It wasn't the sort of share or boardroom struggle that you might expect in business papers or newspapers. Quite literally, a gun was produced, and possibly another held to the head of Gianni Paladini." One of the defendants, Andy Baker, 40, of Petherton, Somerset, allegedly told Mr Paladini they were QPR fans and that "what they were doing was for the club" before punching him in the stomach. It was alleged that another defendant, Aaron Lacey, 36, from Watford, standing behind Mr Paladini, pushed something into the back of his head and said: "Let's kill him now, let's kill him now." After signing the resignation letter, Mr Paladini managed to break free and escape. Armed police burst into Mr Morris's executive box shortly after half-time in the game with Sheffield United and arrested him with four other men. In the executive box they found a screwed-up piece of paper apparently written by Mr Paladini in shaky handwriting as well as two bundles of cash totalling £7,000, which the prosecution suggested were "wages for the heavies' day work". Mr Williams told the jury that QPR had been in financial difficulties for a number of years and that its finances "remained precarious" when Mr Paladini got involved with the club in March 2004. The court was told he was an Italian professional footballer whose career was cut short by injury in his early 20s. He came to live in Britain before taking up a career as a football agent. When QPR were "desperately short of money" he introduced a number of potential investors to the club, including a former Brazilian international footballer who purchased £500,000 of shares. But relations between members of the board became "extremely strained" between June and August last year. There were rows about the catering contract at the stadium and about plans to redecorate the ground and the gym. The hearing continues. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1767759,00.html?gusrc=rss
The Press Association (PA) John-Paul Ford Rojas, May 4, 2006
QPR DIRECTOR IN SOPRANOS-STYLE ORDEAL, COURT HEARS
An Italian-born Championship football team director was ordered at gunpoint to quit his post and sign over his stake in the club, a court heard today.In scenes reminiscent of TV gangster series The Sopranos, Gianni Paladini was threatened by fellow Queens Park Rangers (QPR) director David Morris, a trial was told.Morris allegedly asked Mr Paladini to go to the chief executive's office at the club's Loftus Road ground for a chat before a home game, it is alleged. But they were soon joined by six other men, hired ``muscle'' said to have been arranged by security consultant Andy Baker. Baker told Mr Paladini they were all QPR fans and ``what they were doing was for the club'', before punching him in the stomach.In shaky handwriting the alleged victim, a former player and later football agent, wrote out a resignation letter, London's Blackfriars Crown Court was told. Meanwhile QPR chairman Bill Power, aware that something was afoot, went to find out what was happening in the third-floor office, the Crown said.But his way was barred, he was told, ``on the chairman's orders'', to which he replied: ``I am the f****** chairman'', David Williams QC, prosecuting, said.Mr Paladini finally managed to break free after his son Stephen, who had come with him to the game, found him ``highly distressed and in tears'', it was claimed.Stephen was said to have told the men holding him: ``You can't do this, it's illegal'', before being told he himself would be pushed downstairs and have his neck broken.His father was said to have run screaming from his captors, attracting the attention of a member of catering staff, who called for police via an open window.Armed officers arrested Morris in his executive box shortly after half-time in the game against Sheffield United on August 13 last year.They also seized Andy Baker, Barry Powell, Aaron Lacey and John McFarlane, along with £7,000 in cash, allegedly ``wages for the heavies' day's work'' and a screwed-up note apparently written by Mr Paladini.Earlier, two other defendants, David Davenport and Michael Reynolds, had been arrested as they walked away from the ground in west London.Mr Williams, opening the trial, said: ``I don't know whether some of you watch television and see The Sopranos. This is like something out of a gangster film.``It was against this scenario that Gianni Paladini was forced to write his own letter of resignation.``He was shouted at, slapped and punched by the group until he complied.``He had no means of escape and terrified for his safety did as he was told.''Mr Williams added: ``It wasn't the sort of share or boardroom struggle that you might expect in business papers or newspapers.``Quite literally, a gun was produced and possibly another held to the head of Gianni Paladini.''The jury was shown an imitation firearm which Mr Paladini said he was 99% certain was the one with which he had been threatened.Mr Paladini, who at the time owned a 14.7% stake in QPR, had arrived at the club in March 2004, with its finances in a ``precarious'' state.But despite attracting investment from the likes of former Brazilian international Carlos Dunga, Mr Williams said, he had ``ruffled a few feathers'' so that by August 13 ``there were those at QPR who wanted Gianni Paladini out''.With his ``fiery Latin temperament'', he would become upset when he felt he was left out of decisions, the court heard, although Mr Power tended to brush off his hot-headedness as ``bravado''.On August 11, it was claimed, Mr Paladini telephoned Phil Emmell, a business associate of Mr Power, threatening both him and Morris, and their families.Two days later he travelled to Loftus Road from his home in Solihull, West Midlands, with his son Stephen, married daughter Kate Mairoudis, and her son Gianluca, who was due to be the club mascot that day.It was while they enjoyed pre-match hospitality in the chairman's suite that Mr Paladini was said to have been lured away by Morris. Baker, 40, of Bridgewater Road, North Petherton, Somerset; Morris, 50, of Doggetts Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks; Powell, 34, of Nicholas Close, Greenford, Middlesex; Lacey, 36, from Crossmead, Watford; McFarlane, 39, of Fairholme Crescent, Hayes, Middlesex; Davenport, 38, of Cowper Road, Chesham, Bucks; and Reynolds, 45, of Palace Gates Road, Wood Green, north London, all deny conspiracy to blackmail, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.Tomorrow, members of the jury are due to visit Loftus Road where the events are alleged to have taken place. (Press Association, May 4)
The Times May 4, 2006 QPR director 'forced to resign at gunpoint'By Philippe Naughton A former Italian football international was forced at gunpoint to sign a letter resigning from the board of Queens Park Rangers in a scene like "something out of a gangster film," a court heard today. Gianni Paladini, who used to play for Juventus and Napoli, was asked if he could "have a word" by David Morris, a fellow director, as the men prepared to watch the Championship club's first home game of this season. But he soon found himself surrounded by hired thugs and forced to write out a resignation letter, London’s Blackfriars Crown Court was told. David Williams, QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "I don’t know whether some of you watch television and see The Sopranos. This is like something out of a gangster film. "It was against this scenario that Gianni Paladini was forced to write his own letter of resignation. He was shouted at, slapped and punched by the group until he complied. He had no means of escape and terrified for his safety did as he was told." Mr Williams added: "It wasn’t the sort of share or boardroom struggle that you might expect in business papers or newspapers.Quite literally, a gun was produced and possibly another held to the head of Gianni Paladini." At the time of the incident at QPR’s Loftus Road ground on August 13 last year, Mr Paladini, a former Fifa-accredited agent, owned a 14.7-per cent sake in the club, the court heard. He has since become its chairman. While he was being held, the court heard, the club chairman Bill Power, who was aware that "something untoward" was occurring, went to find out what was happening but was blocked by a group of men who claimed to be acting "on the chairman’s orders". Mr Power told them: "I am the f***ing chairman", but he was still not allowed to pass. The court heard that Mr Paladini who had been asked to quit his position on the board of directors and surrender his shares, eventually managed to break free from his captors and ran screaming from them. A member of catering staff was said to have called out of an open window to alert the police. Armed officers burst into Mr Morris’s executive box shortly after half-time in the game with Sheffield United and arrested him along with fellow defendants Andy Baker, Barry Powell, Aaron Lacey and John McFarlane. In the executive box they found a screwed-up piece of paper apparently written by Mr Paladini in shaky handwriting as well as two bundles of cash totalling £7,000 which the Crown suggested were "wages for the heavies’ day work". Earlier, two other defendants David Davenport and Michael Reynolds were arrested walking away from the ground. Mr Williams said that Mr Baker was a security consultant who provided "muscle" for Mr Morris. All seven deny conspiracy to blackmail, false imprisonment and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence. Mr Williams told the court: "It may well be that Gianni Paladini had ruffled a few feathers since acquiring his shares in QPR and one of those he had upset appears to have been David Morris, recently appointed to the board himself, having lent financial support to the club’s ailing finances over a number of years. "It seems that the catalyst, triggered perhaps, for the events of August 13th was the culmination of a number of disputes over how the club’s affairs were being managed as a result of which David Morris, rightly or wrongly, perceived that Paladini had made threats against himself and his family over the telephone during an argument with someone else. "Whatever the reasons, by August 13 last year, there were those at QPR who wanted Gianni Paladini out and the chief amongst those people was David Morris." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2164992,00.html
The Times, May 5 - Steve Bird
Football director 'taken hostage and forced to resign at gunpoint'
A MILLIONAIRE director of Queens Park Rangers Football Club was taken hostage with a gun held to his head and forced to write a resignation letter during a violent boardroom ordeal, a jury was told yesterday. In a scene reminiscent of the gangster television series The Sopranos, Gianni Paladini was said to have been punched and slapped by a gang of five “heavies” hired by David Morris, a director of the club. Blackfriars Crown Court was told that Mr Morris, 50, had wanted the 59-year-old Italian businessman to relinquish his control and give up his majority shareholding of the West London club. The attack culminated in armed police descending on the stadium at half-time during a match against Sheffield United, and raiding one of the executive boxes to arrest the gang, it was said. As Mr Morris sat in the dock yesterday with six co-defendants and a row of security staff, David Williams, QC, for the prosecution, said that Mr Morris had “hired muscle” to force out Mr Paladini. Opening the case, he said that Mr Paladini, who had bought a controlling stake in the club with £600,000 of shares, had “ruffled feathers” with his fiery Latin temperament. The team were suffering from serious financial problems and languishing in the Coca-Cola Championship division. The attack took place in the chief executive’s office at QPR’s Loftus Road stadium minutes before the kick-off, Mr Williams said. “This was no classic boardroom struggle at a football club of the type with which you might be familiar from the business papers or sports newspapers,” he said. “A gun was produced and possibly another held to the head of Gianni Paladini, who then owned a 14.7 per cent stake in the club. At the dictation of Mr Morris, a co-director, he was forced to write out a letter of resignation and to sign two documents. To ensure he did so he was intimidated by the presence of hired muscle provided by Andy Baker.” Mr Morris, of Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire; Mr Baker, 38, of North Petherton, Somerset; Aaron Lacey, 37, of Watford; John McFarlane, 39, of Hayes, London; Barry Lee Powell, 34, of Greenford, London; Michael Reynolds, 45, of Wood Green, London; and David Davenport, 38, of Chesham, Buckinghamshire, all deny possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, false imprisonment and conspiracy to blackmail in August last year. The court was told that Mr Morris had asked Mr Paladini for a chat in the chief executive’s office. There, Mr Williams said, six “muscle men” burst in. Mr Baker punched Mr Paladini in the stomach and said that the men were QPR fans and “what they were doing was best for the club”. “A gun was produced, whether real or imitation we cannot say,” Mr Williams said, comparing what happened to a scene from The Sopranos. “It was pointed at Mr Paladini before being placed on the table in front of him. From the rear he could feel something being pushed at the back of his head. He was never in a position to see if that was a gun or not, but understandably feared that it was. “It was against this scene Gianni Paladini was forced to write his letter of resignation. He was shouted at, slapped and punched by the group until he complied. He had no means of escape and, terrified for his safety, did as he was told.” Mr Morris was said to have shouted at him, “Sign there, sign now”, while one of the gang said: “Let’s kill him now.” At one point Bill Power, then the chairman, was barred from entering the office by a heavily built man who claimed that the chairman had ordered that no one should enter. Mr Power replied: “I am the f*****g chairman.” He added: “It looks like the lunatics have taken over the asylum.” Inside the room Mr Paladini was told that his shares would be paid into his bank and that he and his family should never return to the ground, the court was told. As he was escorted from the office his son, Stephen, emerged and saw his father in tears. One of the gang was heard to say to Stephen Paladini: “If you say another word I’ll break your neck. I’ll push you down the stairs. I’ve told you not to talk to me, not to look at me.” Moments later Mr Paladini broke free and began screaming hysterically and police were alerted as the gang fled. Armed police evacuated guests from executive boxes at half-time. They then burst in and arrested Mr Morris, Mr McFarlane, Mr Baker, Mr Powell and Mr Lacey. In the box they found a piece of paper with an uncompleted resignation letter in shaky handwriting and £7,000 in cash, which Mr Williams said was payment for the “hired muscle”. Mr Davenport and Mr Reynolds were arrested walking from the ground. Mr Davenport’s car was found to contain a blank-firing 8mm handgun. Mr Morris’s brother, Daniel, was said to have played a significant role in the incident. He is still being sought by police. The trial is expected to last four weeks.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2165788,00.html
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