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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Sheridans to face perjury trial | Sheridans to face perjury trial |
| (1 day later) | |
| Former Solidarity MSP and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Tommy Sheridan and his wife Gail are to stand trial on perjury charges. | Former Solidarity MSP and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Tommy Sheridan and his wife Gail are to stand trial on perjury charges. |
| The charges relate to evidence given during Mr Sheridan's defamation victory against the News of the World in 2006. | The charges relate to evidence given during Mr Sheridan's defamation victory against the News of the World in 2006. |
| The newspaper had published sex and drugs claims against Mr Sheridan. | The newspaper had published sex and drugs claims against Mr Sheridan. |
| The couple, both aged 44, were charged with perjury in December 2007 following an investigation by Lothian and Borders Police. They both deny the charges. | The couple, both aged 44, were charged with perjury in December 2007 following an investigation by Lothian and Borders Police. They both deny the charges. |
| The investigation was launched after a judge said conflicting evidence in the defamation trial may have meant some people were perjuring themselves. | The investigation was launched after a judge said conflicting evidence in the defamation trial may have meant some people were perjuring themselves. |
| Mr Sheridan and his wife have consistently denied the allegations and criticised the way Lothian and Borders Police handled the subsequent investigation. | Mr Sheridan and his wife have consistently denied the allegations and criticised the way Lothian and Borders Police handled the subsequent investigation. |
| During a news conference on Tuesday, the couple's solicitor, Aamer Anwar, read a statement confirming that they would stand trial. | |
| Mr Sheridan was evicted from Celebrity Big Brother on 21 JanuaryHe said: "I can confirm that an indictment was served today for charges of perjury against Thomas and Gail Sheridan. | Mr Sheridan was evicted from Celebrity Big Brother on 21 JanuaryHe said: "I can confirm that an indictment was served today for charges of perjury against Thomas and Gail Sheridan. |
| "A preliminary hearing is fixed for 26 February 2009 at the High Court in Edinburgh and a trial will then be fixed for later on in the year. | "A preliminary hearing is fixed for 26 February 2009 at the High Court in Edinburgh and a trial will then be fixed for later on in the year. |
| "As proceedings are live it would be inappropriate to comment further, other than to state that both Mr and Mrs Sheridan maintain their innocence and are determined to fight this. | "As proceedings are live it would be inappropriate to comment further, other than to state that both Mr and Mrs Sheridan maintain their innocence and are determined to fight this. |
| "There will be no further statements or interviews and we would ask the media to respect the Sheridan family's privacy." | "There will be no further statements or interviews and we would ask the media to respect the Sheridan family's privacy." |
| The Crown Office confirmed that an indictment had been served. | The Crown Office confirmed that an indictment had been served. |
| It said the indictment contained one charge of perjury and one charge of attempted subornation of perjury - or persuading another to commit perjury - against Mr Sheridan. | It said the indictment contained one charge of perjury and one charge of attempted subornation of perjury - or persuading another to commit perjury - against Mr Sheridan. |
| It also contains a charge of perjury against Mrs Sheridan. | It also contains a charge of perjury against Mrs Sheridan. |
| Tommy Sheridan was one of the leading figures in the establishment of the Scottish Socialist Alliance in 1996, which evolved into the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) in 1998. | Tommy Sheridan was one of the leading figures in the establishment of the Scottish Socialist Alliance in 1996, which evolved into the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) in 1998. |
| Party split | Party split |
| He was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 as a member for Glasgow and re-elected in 2003 - along with five other SSP MSPs. | He was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 as a member for Glasgow and re-elected in 2003 - along with five other SSP MSPs. |
| The party fractured in the run-up to the defamation case in 2006, resulting in some party colleagues, including several MSPs, giving evidence which conflicted with that of Mr Sheridan. | |
| Following his court victory, he announced that he was leaving the SSP and forming a new party, Solidarity, with former Socialist MSP Rosemary Byrne. | |
| Both MSPs, and the remaining four SSP MSPs, lost their seats at the 2007 Holyrood election. | Both MSPs, and the remaining four SSP MSPs, lost their seats at the 2007 Holyrood election. |
| Since then, Mr Sheridan has hosted a chat show during the Edinburgh fringe and had a radio talk show. | Since then, Mr Sheridan has hosted a chat show during the Edinburgh fringe and had a radio talk show. |
| He also appeared in this year's version of reality game show, Celebrity Big Brother, where he was fifth person to be evicted. | He also appeared in this year's version of reality game show, Celebrity Big Brother, where he was fifth person to be evicted. |