Chris Cairns trial: Court to hear of corruption, cash and cricket

Chris Cairns denies the perjury charge against him. Photo / Getty Images

Corruption, cash and cricket - one of London's top Queen's Counsel will sum up the prosecution case against Chris Cairns tonight in a final bid to convince 12 jurors the sporting "hero" fell from grace into match-fixing.

Time consuming legal argument delayed the trial overnight in the Southwark Crown Court yet again, as well as an ill jury member, so the final pieces of evidence will be read to the jury this evening.

Then Sasha Wass QC will close the Crown case with a speech which sums up all the evidence and argue that Cairns is guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice. He has vigorously denied any wrongdoing.

But the trial against Cairns and his friend Andrew Fitch-Holland, which started at the beginning of October, could drag on until the final week of November.

Defence barrister Orlando Pownall, QC, is representing Cairns and will start his closing speech on Monday, followed on Tuesday by Jonathan Laidlaw, QC, who is advocating on behalf of Fitch-Holland.

The trio of Queen's Counsel are among the top crime barristers in London, with Ms Wass recently being recognised by her peers as Crime Silk of the Year - an award her rival counsel have also previously won.

Her work profile describes her as a "fearless opponent" with a photographic memory known for her relentless cross-examination, something which Cairns and Fitch-Holland both experienced.

Her most high-profile case internationally was the conviction of entertainer Rolf Harris on historical sex crimes against four young victims.

The trial judge, Justice Nigel Sweeney, will then give directions on relevant parts of the law to help guide the jury through the evidence.

His closing address could last for up to two days, so the jury is unlikely to retire to consider its verdict until Friday next week.

If they are unable to reach a verdict before the weekend, they will return the following Monday for what would be the eighth week of the marathon trial.