A Manhattan jury heard competing narratives Tuesday in the bizarre case of the fake German heiress, as a prosecutor portrayed Anna Sorokin as a profligate con artist and a defense attorney insisted she had ambitious business plans but was taken in by the extravagance of New York. The deliberations cap a more than three-week trial that drew international attention and tabloid headlines about Sorokin's courtroom fashion choices. Closing arguments focused in large part on Sorokin's intent, which prosecutors must demonstrate was criminal in order to convict her. Her defense attorney, Todd Spodek, insisted Sorokin had been "buying time" and planned all along to settle her six-figure debts, portraying her as an entrepreneur who got in over her head. McCaw said Sorokin once burned through $40,000 over a period of just eight days.

Source: Fox News April 23, 2019 16:00 UTC