‘P****d off’ Gwyneth Paltrow became ‘punching bag’ in ski trial, lawyer tells court | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV
Closing arguments took place in front of a packed courtroom on Thursday as the high-profile trial drew to a close.
Stephen Owens, representing Gwyneth Paltrow, said the actress had sat in court for two weeks as a “punching bag” and had been “uncomfortable” during proceedings.
“It takes a lot of courage does it not?” he told the jury in his own closing argument.
“(Terry Sanderson’s) life has been laid open – that’s because of him. He hit her. He hurt her and he wants $3 million for it.
Describing Ms Paltrow’s reaction to the crash at the time, Mr Owens said: “Gwyneth is p****d off.
“If you hit someone do you yell at the person you just hit? No. The hittee – is usually the unhappy one.”
He added: “This is a meritless claim.
“You don’t throw a three-million-dollar bombshell in the courtroom, call her King Kong, and walk away. You shouldn’t reward that.”
Ms Paltrow is accused of “slamming” into retired optometrist Terry Sanderson, leaving him with several broken ribs and severe brain injuries.
She has denied the claims, alleging that Mr Sanderson crashed into her at the Deer Valley resort in Utah, and caused her to lose “half a day of skiing”.
The Oscar winner has counter-sued Mr Sanderson for $1.
Earlier, jurors heard from Mr Sanderson’s legal team, who said that Ms Paltrow was “not a liar” but was wrong about what she believes happened during the incident seven years ago.
Robert Sykes told jurors that the actress’s views on the collision were “sincerely expressed” but incorrect.
“Gwyneth Paltrow in this case is not a liar. Terry Sanderson is not a liar,” he said.
“Gwyneth is a good person. She is a good mother and she loves her children and she is passionate about things.
“I think that she believes, and I believe Gwyneth Paltrow when she says ‘Terry hit me in the back’ – it’s a sincere belief but the problem is a sincere belief doesn’t make it so.”
Mr Sykes added: “That day that Terry left his house to go skiing, he anticipated like many other days in his life, a fun day of skiing, and he never returned home that night as the same Terry. He never came home, figuratively speaking.
“Terry has tried to get off that mountain but he’s really still there. Part of Terry will forever be [there].
“We hope you will help bring Terry home off that mountain with a fair verdict today.”
Jurors have now been sent to deliberate on their verdicts.
