High life
After the verdict
Taki
ANew York s everyone probably saw on televi- sion last Monday, when the verdict of innocent on both counts was announced, all Claus Von Bulow did was to shut his eyes and lower his head to his clasped hands. Driving into New York City that ,afternoon in order to have dinner with him I heard the following radio report: 'The accused jumped with joy and punched the air with his fist in the triumphant manner of European footballers.'
When I told Claus the story he seemed more distressed at that than the untrue accusations made by his step-children in a press conference following his acquittal. Typical Claus, I thought to myself, he can forgive those who have called him a mur- derer but minds when someone gives an impression of him that doesn't conform to the image Claus has been cultivating for over 30 years, that of U-boat commander Von Burlow, steely-eyed, cold-blooded, ram-rod straight and with as much emotion as a Japanese samurai about to commit seppuku.
And it was his love of that image that got him into trouble in the first place. By trying to keep up appearances he refused to defend himself in a manner expected of someone fighting for his life, i.e. by telling his attorneys about his wife's drinking and dependence on sleeping pills, or the fact that he never loved Alexandra Isles but strung her along, and would no more kill his wife for her than Boy George is about to kill Marilyn for the love of Cornelia Guest. Last but not least, he did not reveal that the family had at first tried persuasion and, failing that, had suddenly produced the black bag full of incriminating goodies inside.
At the time it seemed that Claus was more embarrassed than worried, and I remember telling him not to fight like the Americans fought in Vietnam, with both hands tied behind their backs. But he didn't listen to Taki, and he got 30 years for it — which was enough even for Claus to come down off his perch and start defending himself. Yet for five years he has kept a stiff upper lip and a• dignified silence, while the Alexandra Isleses and John Simons of this world have been having a field day.
Well, a bit less of a field day since last Monday. The last few weeks have been really torture for Claus. I for one felt extremely sorry for him knowing what he must be going through as the day approached. Here was I, guilty as hell of having cocaine on me, and, while doing three short months in the nick, feeling that I had been wronged, while he faced 30 years in jail and was innocent to boot. What bothers me now is that the Au- esbergs will continue to sling mud, and most of it will stick, as mud usually does, especially when thrown at someone like Claus.
Speaking of mud-slinging, it was a friend of Claus, Dado Ruspoli, who first spread the rumour that Claus was a necrophile over 30 years ago. I helped spread it. The reason? Easy. Dado and I felt that Claus was too shy, withdrawn, too straight to have any cachet with the propeller set of the Riviera. The necrophile image gave him some allure. So well did we do our image polishing that 30 years later one Lally Weymouth, writing a story about Claus, fell for it hook, line and sinker.
Why is Claus unwilling to attack the Auesbergs who are crucifying him in print? He tells me that they are in good faith, i.e., they got an invalid test result on their mother's condition, and truly believe that, he tried to do in their mother. In his words: 'They are misguided, but so would 1 be under the circumstances. But why look for a bullet when there is no bullet hole?'
What happens now? If he asks me, which he won't, I would advise Claus to pack up and move to England. New York is a tough town, especially when one becomes notorious as he has. Being Claus Von Bulow will not be easy for him over here. U-boat commanders, after all, do not enjoy the company of Boy George, Marilyn, or even Cornelia Guest. The fact that eight experts and an endocrinologist who testified to the traces of insulin on the needle were wrong, makes no difference.
Claus in many eyes will always be a murderer who got off because of his wife's money. The fact that millions have been spent by those who are trying to do him down is neither here nor there. The Aues- berg family seem to enjoy the limelight, and I suppose their press conferences will con- tinue. In good old England, however, people end up in Pentonville when they flout the law. Go to England, Claus, U-boat commanders are in these days.
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