Fiorina cross-examined by Hewlett lawyers

NEWS The attempt by Walter Hewlett to derail the $19bn HP-Compaq merger yesterday saw HP CEO Carly Fiorina take the stand in a Delaware courtroom. Attorneys for Hewlett, the son of one of HP's founders and a former board member, sought to find conflicting information between HP's public statements and entries in Fiorina's personal records and internal memos. At the heart of the case, which is only expected to last a week or so, is whether HP illegally convinced shareholder Deutsche Bank to vote in favour of the merger. Results of the vote have not yet been disclosed but it is thought the outcome could rest on the actions of a single large shareholder. The case continues.