Redknapp loses cool at tax evasion trial

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp shouted angrily at a police detective on Wednesday as tempers flared during his tax evasion court case.

The Spurs coach, who denies cheating the public revenue by failing to declare payments made into a Monaco bank account, broke off his testimony to shout at Detective Dave Manley, who he had accused of "staring" at him.

"Mr Manley, will you please stop staring at me," Redknapp fumed. "I know you are trying to cause me a problem, OK."

The 64-year-old then apologised to Judge Anthony Leonard before continuing his testimony to defence barrister John Kelsey-Fry QC.

The dramatic outburst came as Redknapp entered the witness box for the first time in his two-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.

The Spurs manager is accused of cheating the public revenue with 73-year-old tycoon Milan Mandaric when the two men worked together at Portsmouth.

Mandaric, now in charge of Sheffield Wednesday in English football's third tier, and Redknapp both deny the charges, which centre on $295,000 (£189,000, 225,000 euros) paid by Mandaric into an account set up by Redknapp.

Earlier Wednesday, Redknapp denied being a tax cheat, and told jurors he had hired the best accountants available to manage his financial affairs.

"I have always paid my taxes. I've always gone to the best available people," Redknapp said. "I have always paid too much tax rather than not enough."

Redknapp also said he had enjoyed a close relationship with co-defendant Mandaric.

"There was no-one in the world I would rather be with," Redknapp said. "We had our ups and downs, I was a bit volatile perhaps. Even now I love his company."

The court broke into laughter as defence lawyer Kelsey-Fry said Redknapp's success in football was "much to the displeasure" of Mandaric's defence counsel Lord Ken Macdonald.

"Well he's an Arsenal supporter isn't he?" Redknapp replied.

Redknapp later said he had discussed the Monaco account with Mandaric only once, in 2004 after Portsmouth had ensured Premier League survival.

"We started to have a glass of wine and we were so happy I thought I'd ask ... 'So Milan how did the investments go in Monaco?'

"He said 'I lost millions and millions and millions, disaster. But don't worry we'll have another go'."

"It disappeared out of my head after that. It was the last time that I ever spoke to him about it."

Earlier on Wednesday, Mandaric dismissed suggestions by prosecutors that Redknapp was paid money into his Monaco account because of "greed".

Prosecutor John Black asked Mandaric if the alleged tax dodge was "all about Mr Redknapp and he was greedy and wanted more money".

"That's the truth isn't it?" Black asked Mandaric.

Mandaric replied: "Absolutely not true."

Mandaric told jurors Redknapp "was paid millions of pounds. He was paid fairly... There was no issue whatsoever."

Mandaric said the money deposited in Redknapp's account in Monaco "was money that I was going to develop his portfolio".

"We can go over and over," Mandaric told the prosecutor under cross-examination. "I respect your job and everything but I cannot deviate from the truth. Simple as that."