Timeline: Sheridan trial week 12
- Published
DECEMBER 20 -
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 twelfth week of evidence.
DAY 43 (20 Dec)
Six allegations of perjury against former Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) MSP Tommy Sheridan have been dropped as the trial enters its closing stages.
Prosecutors told jurors the deletion of significant parts of the indictment would assist them as they prepared to consider their verdict.
The former leader of the SSP had originally faced more than a dozen claims of lying under oath at the start of the trial.
Last month the Crown announced it would not pursue Mr Sheridan over two allegations of lying and on Monday prosecutor Alex Prentice QC said a further six allegations would be dropped.
There is now one charge of perjury consisting of six allegations.
DAY 44 (21 Dec)
Tommy Sheridan has begun his closing speech at his perjury trial by accusing Lothian and Borders Police of conducting "a vendetta" against him.
He told jurors that the case against him relied on witnesses who lacked credibility and reliability.
Mr Sheridan apologised for the length of his speech, saying his life was at stake if he was convicted.
The charges against Mrs Sheridan were withdrawn by the Crown last week and she was acquitted.
During a trial lasting two-and-a-half months, the number of perjury allegations against Mr Sheridan has been reduced by the prosecution from 19 to six.
DAY 45 (22 Dec)
The jury in the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial at the High Court in Glasgow has been sent home for the night.
Jurors will return on Thursday to continue their deliberations on whether to convict the politician of six allegations of lying in court.
In his closing speech, Mr Sheridan said he wanted to keep a promise to spend Christmas with his daughter.
During a trial lasting two-and-a-half months, the number of perjury allegations against Mr Sheridan has been reduced by the prosecution from 18 to six.