Shannon Matthews trial Day 14: Karen 'lied and lied'

Dec 1 2008 By Andrew Jackson

He told the jury the case was a "symptom" of the times, as it was alleged the kidnap plot involved claiming £50,000 reward put forward by a national newspaper.

Mr Conrad said his client was not an "evil monster" but in reality he was a "pathetic inadequate" who was "vulnerable, unsophisticated and weak in body and mind".

He told the jury: "In the case of Michael Donovan you have to consider three charges against him, whether they are made out, whether Shannon was kidnapped and falsely imprisoned and whether Michael Donovan did acts tending or intending to pervert the course of justice.

"In particular, in this case you will have to consider duress. Whether it was or may have been the case that Donovan was driven to act as he did because he genuinely and reasonably believed that he would be killed or seriously harmed immediately or almost immediately if he did not do as he was told."

He said Donovan was "put under pressure he couldn’t stand up to".

Referring to Donovan’s arrest, when he allegedly resisted, Mr Conrad said the police evidence was "riddled with inaccuracies" and the officers had allowed emotion to affect them.

He accused the police officers of "playing to the gallery" and seeking their 15 minutes of fame.

"They have tried to cover themselves in glory. This was their 15 minutes of fame and they have singularly failed," he told the jury.

The trial was adjourned until tomorrow.