Ecclestone trial stopped for $100 mln

For just about everyone else, 100 million dollars is more than a lifetime's amount of money.

But for Bernie Ecclestone it's much more likely to be pocket money.

A German court has told him to pay that sum as a fine.

That's in exchange for halting a bribery trial against the Formula One tycoon.

Andrea Titz is a court spokeswoman.

SOUNDBITE Court Spokesperson Andrea Titz, saying (German):

"There were talks between the prosecution and the defence about whether the trial could be ended. It seems those talks led to a decision, and the court has been informed of that decision."

Ecclestone's lawyers applauded the settlement after the court heard more than 100 hours of testimony.

The former used-car salesman turned motor-racing mogul was accused of paying 44 million dollars in bribes to a banker.

That was allegedly to help the sale of a major stake in the motor sport business eight years ago.

The decision preserves Ecclestone's innoce