‘Mad Punter’ Lawyer Asks Jury to Abandon Envy of Trader’s Wealth

By Suzi Ring, Bloomberg News

The lawyer for a “larger than life” day trader caught-up in the U.K.’s biggest insider-dealing case told a London jury they must set aside any envy they feel about his wealth and avoid treating the trial like a popularity contest.

Iraj Parvizi, dubbed the “Mad Punter” by other traders for his willingness to wager on anything, went from working in a kebab shop in his early 20s to a net worth of $100 million. A self-confessed gambler, Parvizi regaled the jury with tales of his successes and losses over the years and a lifestyle that ...