Lay winds up testimony at his trial

HOUSTON -- Kenneth Lay wrapped up six days of testimony at his federal fraud and conspiracy trial Tuesday by proclaiming his love for Enron Corp., the energy firm that he founded, and the people who worked there before it went bankrupt.

"I loved Enron very much," Lay said in a brief response to the final question from his attorney, George Secrest. "And I loved Enron's employees very much. I spent half my professional life running Enron. I think we built a great company. We changed energy markets around the world."

"I think the most painful thing in my life was watching Enron finally have to go into bankruptcy."

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VERBAL JOUSTING

During his final cross-examination, Lay verbally sparred with prosecutor John Hueston, this time over taking responsibility for the implosion of the once-giant energy trading company.

Lay continued to cite deceit by former Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow as being "at the heart" of Enron's collapse.

"Your list of people to blame and events to blame did not include yourself, did it, sir?" Hueston asked him.

"Did I make mistakes?" Lay replied. "I'm sure I did, Mr. Hueston. I had to make real-time decisions based on the information I had at the time."

Hueston accused Lay of making self-serving statements, and Lay replied: "It is just the truth."

Lay and a his co-defendant, former Enron Chief Executive Jeffrey Skilling, are accused of repeatedly lying to investors and employees about Enron when they allegedly knew the company's success relied on accounting tricks.

The two men have pleaded not guilty.

For more on the Enron trial and Lay's last day of testimony, watch this AP video report.