Key Witness Gerhard Gribkowsky To Testify Against Bernie Ecclestone On May 9

There "could be a preliminary decision in the trial against F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone on May 9," according to Frank Schneider of BILD. It "will be the day when the prosecution's key witness, convicted former banker Gerhard Gribkowsky, takes the stand at the Munich courthouse." Gribkowsky was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years for tax evasion and bribery in connection to the sale of F1 to private equity firm CVC in '05. Ecclestone and his lawyer Sven Thomas will do "everything to discredit Gribkowsky's statements." Ecclestone said, "We have evidence and we will present it." However, not before Gribkowsky's testimony "in order to convict the key witness of lying." Ecclestone said, "Gribkowsky wanted to leave the bank. He wanted to become my business partner. But I refused." Should the court convict Ecclestone of bribery "he could face up to 10 years in prison" (BILD, 4/27).