Many former friends of Enron founder Kenneth Lay refused to comment on his death on Wednesday as they sought to distance themselves from a man convicted of one of the largest corporate frauds in United States history. A Republican party fund raiser, Lay golfed with presidents and was hailed as a business visionary and generous philanthropist prior to Enron’s spectacular meltdown.
The prosecution and defence rested their cases on Monday in the trial of former Enron executives Jeffrey Skilling and Kenneth Lay after 14 weeks of intense questioning of the key figures in one of the biggest collapses in corporate history. The court adjourned and closing arguments will be heard next week before the jury starts its deliberations.