Mike Lynch trial: defense points to difference in accounting standards

Lawyers for UK tech tycoon facing 25 years in jail suggest US workers did not understand UK accounting principles

Lawyers for Mike Lynch tried to highlight differences between UK and US accounting standards as they defended the British businessman against allegations he orchestrated a “massive” years-long fraud.

Lynch, who founded and led Autonomy, a UK software firm, is fighting to avoid prison after federal prosecutors in the US charged him with 16 counts of wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy. His criminal trial started in San Francisco on Monday.