The epic court case between Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kaszon, the patriarch of one of Europe's most powerful families, and his eldest son Georg, also known as Heini junior, kicked off yesterday in a Hamilton courtroom. The public mud-slinging between father and son began with the lawyers for Heini senior questioning the `honour' of Heini Jr. and suggesting that reasons for not paying some $70 million originally demanded by the baron in arrears was done out of "miserliness''.

Lawyers called Heini junior "disreputable'' and accused him of miserliness.

The baron is battling with Georg to gain control of a business empire worth $2.7 billion. He is trying to wrest back control of a fortune from his son who he put in charge of the Bermuda-based trust 1983.

The original sum the baron was demanding was for back-dated annual payments from Heini Jr, but today his lawyers revealed that figure has been raised to a total claim of $232 million to include inflation and loss of value.

The trust's main asset is Thyssen-Bornemisza Group, an industrial conglomerate that earned $100 million last year. The baron is attempting to dissolve the trust claiming that since 1995 his son has not paid him the full 40 million Dutch gilders a year that was agreed upon.

It has taken a year and a half to get the case to court, while both sides have ironed out their legal wrangles.

All preliminary disputes were held in private and at the end of the summer it was estimated that the legal costs for the first year alone cost $14 million.

Today in court 17 of London's top lawyers gathered to hear the opening statements made by the baron's lead lawyer Michael Crystal, one of Britain's highest salaried lawyers who earned $1.4 million last year.

The cost of the renovation of the Church Street courtroom was $270,000, which was partially paid for by both sides of the Thyssen case so that it would be heard more promptly.

Mr. Crystal told Puisine Judge Denis Mitchell: "The plaintiffs say that Georg has behaved towards the baron in a way that is neither ethical nor favourable.'' Earlier he said, in trying to explain non-payment of the annuity: "Is it miserliness, is it obsession in the business of the Thyssen-Bornemisza or is it a conflict of interest?'' Mr. Crystal added that Georg had been guilty of "dishonourable and disreputable behaviour'' towards the family.

"The Thyssen family motto is, and I quote: `Virtue transcends riches'. It is the plaintiff's assessment that to Georg, money matters more than virtue or honour. The baron believes his (Georg) behaviour has been amoral.'' Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza, 78, is married to Carmen `Tita' Cervera, a former Spanish beauty queen, who is 22 years his junior. It is his fifth marriage.

In 1993 he sold his art collection, one of the world's largest then in private hands, to the Spanish for $350 million.

The opening arguments are expected to continue for six weeks, and the trial to last up to a year.