The former chief financial officer of property developer Christian Candy’s CPC Group denied expressing sympathy to a businessman who is accusing Candy of intimidation.
Businessman Mark Holyoake (pictured with wife Emma) is suing brothers Nick and Christian Candy for more than £100m, claiming they “coerced” him out of millions of pounds after Candy’s company CPC lent him £12m to buy Belgravia Mansion Grosvenor Gardens House in late 2011.
He is also suing CPC and various CPC executives at the time of the loan, including the then chief financial officer Richard Williams.
Speaking under cross examination on the witness stand today from Holyoake’s barrier, Roger Stewart QC, Williams denied he had a private conversation with Holyoake in which he took his side.
Holyoake alleges, Stewart said, that the conversation took place in a car on the way to Guernsey Airport following a tough meeting between Christian Candy and Holyoake.
“You were deeply uncomfortable about the way [Holyoake] was treated,” Stewart said.
“No,” Williams replied.
“You expressed sympathy for him, and said you were looking to leave CPC,” Stewart said.
“No,” Williams replied.
The Candy brothers strongly refute the allegations and say Holyoake was an unreliable creditor who lied to them from the start. They say Holyoake’s allegations of coercion are fabricated.
Christian Candy, in his witness statement, said he never resorted to threats, and he remained professional at all times.
The hearing is now in its fifth week, and is scheduled to last four more.
■ SEE ALSO: Ghost of Litvinenko raised in Holyoake v Candy trial
