17 Oct 2014

Cairns on trial next October

7:20 am on 17 October 2014

Chris Cairns is likely to face his perjury trial in October next year following a brief court appearance in London over night, according to the website Cricinfo.

Chris Cairns was charged with perjury and bailed.

Chris Cairns was charged with perjury and bailed. Photo: AFP

Cairns, who has been charged with perjury linked to the libel action he brought against Lalit Modi in 2012 for match-fixing accusations made on Twitter in which he was awarded 180 thousand dollars in damages.

Cairns attended Southwark Crown Court along with barrister Andrew Fitch-Holland who faces one count of perverting the course of justice.

The pair were given unconditional bail to appear for a plea and case management hearing at the same court on January 16th.

Both Cairns and Fitch-Holland have indicated they will contest the charges.

The trial is expected to last around four weeks with players from around the world likely to be called to give evidence.

Fitch-Holland is charged with asking Lou Vincent, the former New Zealand batsman banned for life earlier this year after admitting his involvement in fixing, to provide a false witness statement in support of Cairns.