Lay loses his temper on the witness stand

Mr Lay denied accusation that he had been involved in a scheme to concoct fraudulent accounts and deceive investors.

John Hueston, for the prosecution, said that many employees had tried to tell the former Enron chairman that the company was engaged in accounting “trickery”. Mr Hueston further asked Mr Lay why he had not acted to stop the deception being perpetrated.

Mr Lay lost his temper in response: “The corpse is on the gurney now, Mr Hueston, and you are carving it up any way you want to carve it up.”

Mr Lay is accused of conspiracy and fraud over EnronÂ’s collapse. He denies all charges. The case continues.