Cricketer Chris Cairns acquitted in perjury trial

Updated
Chris Cairns After Being Cleared of Perjury: 'I've Been Through Hell'
Chris Cairns After Being Cleared of Perjury: 'I've Been Through Hell'

Former New Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns has been cleared of perjury and perverting the course of justice.

Cairns, 45, faced trial after he successfully sued Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi for accusing him of match fixing on Twitter in 2010.

The libel case netted Cairns £90,000, but he was alleged to have lied to the court when he said he had "never, ever cheated at cricket".

The retired all-rounder was said to have perverted the course of justice by inducing fellow cricketer Lou Vincent to provide a false witness statement during a Skype call.

But following a nine-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in London, Cairns was found not guilty by a jury on both charges.

His friend and "legal adviser", barrister Andrew Fitch-Holland, 50, of Burton Road, Manchester, was also cleared of perverting the course of justice.

After 10 hours of deliberations the jury was directed to acquit the lawyer by Mr Justice Sweeney in light of the cricketer's acquittal.

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