Timeline: Sheridan trial week two
- Published
OCTOBER 11-15
Former Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan, 46, is on trial accused of perjury.
His wife Gail, 46, also faced perjury charges which have now been dropped.
It is claimed Mr Sheridan lied in court so that he could successfully sue the News of the World in 2006.
The former MSP won £200,000 in damages after the newspaper printed allegations about his private life, claiming that he was an adulterer who had visited a swingers club.
Following a police investigation, Mr Sheridan was charged with perjury. He denies the allegations.
Here, is a summary of the second week of evidence
DAY SIX
Tommy Sheridan has dismissed the QC defending him against perjury charges and will now represent himself for the remainder of the trial.
The former Scottish Socialist Party MSP was being represented by Maggie Scott QC.
Judge Lord Bracadale adjourned the trial at the High Court in Glasgow until Thursday.
Lord Bracadale told the jury of the news in what he described as a "sudden development".
The judge said: "I thank you for your patience. You will see Miss Scott and her junior counsel are no longer here.
"Mr Sheridan has instructed his solicitor to withdraw counsel instructions. Mr Sheridan will now conduct his own defence.
"An accused person is perfectly entitled to do so. He will continue to have the support of his solicitor who will render appropriate assistance."
The perjury trial is adjourned on 12 October.
The perjury trial is adjourned on 13 October
DAY SEVEN
Tommy Sheridan has begun his own defence at his perjury trial after dismissing his legal team.
The former Scottish Socialist Party MSP questioned his first witness after dispensing with the services of Maggie Scott QC and junior counsel. He has, however, retained solicitor Aamer Anwar.
When the case reconvened on Thursday, journalist and Mr Sheridan's former SSP colleague, Joanna Harvie, was the only witness to be questioned.
The trial again heard how a meeting of an SSP committee was later called amid suspicion the politician was Mr Sheridan.
Ms Harvie said Mr Sheridan admitted at the gathering that he had been to a sex club, he was "sorry" and that he did not know why he had done it.
Mr Sheridan questioned whether Ms Harvie had discussed testimony already given in the trial with anyone.
She told him: "The case has dominated my life for over a week."
DAY EIGHT
The former MSP Rosie Kane has told the Sheridan perjury trial she went around the Scottish parliament taking bets on the identity of the MSP named in a newspaper as a swinger.
Miss Kane told the court she would be offering odds of 500-1 on it being Tory leader Annabel Goldie.
She was taken aside and told it was Tommy Sheridan and she was to shut up.
Miss Kane told the court she was disgusted when, as she claimed, he admitted to twice visiting a sex club.
She also said Mr Sheridan failed to challenge claims he had been involved in a hotel orgy when the allegation was made at an SSP committee meeting on 9 November 2004.