Evidence in the Beverley Cooper-Flynn libel action ended this afternoon with a round of applause from the public gallery for the final witness, Marina Howard. Ms Howard, a daughter of the retired farmer who claimed Ms Cooper-Flynn brought him into the CMI scheme, was under cross-examination by Garrett Cooney. Closing speeches from lawyers will begin next Tuesday.
Although Beverley Cooper-Flynn has no memory of meeting Marina Howard, Ms Howard claims that they met at her family home sometime between March and May 1990. In the witness box today, Ms Howard said that she was recently back from England "jobless" and "penniless".
She remembered thinking that Ms Cooper-Flynn, with her brilliant bank position, her car and recent engagement, "had everything", while she was "like a down and out". She recalled thinking that Ms Cooper-Flynn's one-stone solitaire engagement ring was more on the generous side than the small side. She made comparisons between the two of them.
While Ms Cooper-Flynn was recently engaged, Marina Howard said that there was "not a man in sight" for her. Looking at Ms Cooper-Flynn's business card afterwards, she thought, "Gosh, even the name Beverley is nice".
Under cross-examination, she admitted that, when the story broke, Ms Cooper-Flynn could sue her and she could lose her house. When Garrett Cooney wondered how she believed that she could be sued for telling the truth, Ms Howard responded, "Well, Daddy has". As the public gallery burst into applause, Mr Cooney concluded his questioning.
