Cricketer Chris Cairns Cleared Of Perjury

The charge against Cairns was that he falsely declared under oath that he “never, ever cheated at cricket” during the 2012 libel case against former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi.

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

After considering the evidence provided by a host of cricket’s most recognisable names – including Brendon McCullum, Ricky Ponting and Daniel Vettori – the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. “There has been a lot of damage done and I think that’s unfortunate”.

During the trial McCullum alleged that Cairns had approached him over attempting to fix matches in India in 2008, although this claim was not proven.

Cairns offered his first smile when his family were mentioned, then slipped to the verge of tears when he said he had spoken to his wife Mel by phone after the verdict.

But one measure of Cairns’s skill as a clean-striker is that even West Indies “master blaster” Vivian Richards – one of cricket’s greatest all-time batsmen – only managed 84 sixes even though he played almost twice as many Tests as the New Zealander.

“It’s been Hell for the last five or so years, and in particular the last couple of years”, he said outside court.

Chris Cairns walked from court a free man but admitted his reputation has “been scorched” and his life in cricket over despite being found not guilty of perjury and attempting to pervert the course of justice. “I don’t think people were there with malicious intent”, he said.

Cairns was charged with the crime of lying in court under the Perjury Act, and could have been sentenced to a maximum of 7 years in prison if the allegations against him were proved true.

The verdict also effectively means that Cairns was not involved in any match-fixing of any sort.

“We’re just really pleased and will be pleased to have him home for Christmas”, she said from her Christchurch home.

“I’m happy for Chris Cairns”.

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

“How the jury was supposed to unravel that, I wouldn’t know – and, even if they brought in an independent witness to say “I think he deliberately hit it or he’s batting slowly”, there are times when things don’t go well for you…”

The retired all-rounder said the trial had been “hell for everyone involved”.

Modi said: “I am aware of the verdict at Southwark Crown Court”.

“The ICC and its (Anti-Corruption Unit) will proceed to work intently with and supply all attainable help to gamers so that the battle towards corruption may be tackled successfully and collectively”.