Cricketer Chris Cairns arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London. Photo / Chris Gorman
Cricketer Chris Cairns arrives at Southwark Crown Court in London. Photo / Chris Gorman
A Skype conversation between professional cricketer Lou Vincent and a "cricket groupie" friend of Chris Cairns is shaping up as a key piece of evidence in his trial.
Vincent, a former Black Caps teammate, also played with Cairns in the rebel Indian Cricket League and is expected to be thefirst witness at Southwark Crown Court on Monday.
In her opening statement to the jury, Crown prosecutor Sasha Wass QC said Vincent had confessed to match-fixing and he would tell the court he had cheated on the instructions of his "hero", Chris Cairns.
A Skype conversation between Vincent and Andrew Fitch-Holland, a close friend of Cairns described as a "cricket groupie" and a lawyer by profession, was played for the jury.
Cairns had wanted Vincent to swear a statement for his defamation case to say that he wasn't involved in match-fixing, as he was suing Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi for tweeting that he was a cheat.
Vincent refused, and Fitch-Holland followed up with a Skype call, which Vincent recorded. Parts of the conversation transcript were read out.
Fitch-Holland: "Between you and I we all know some of what is being said is clearly true ... At the end of the day just because you give a statement no one can force you to come to court, no one can force you to do anything, you know."
Vincent: "It's a big ask from me to sort of like, you say in a legal document, to say something that isn't true. It's a horrible situation because I want to be there for a mate as well, and Cairnsy has been a mate, although you know like I said, I'm not proud of what has happened at all ..."
Fitch-Holland went on to say that he doubted the matter would go to court and Vincent's statement would end up "in the shredder".
But the defamation case did go to the High Court in London and Cairns was awarded 1.4 million ($3.24 million) in damages and legal costs.
Cairns and Fitch-Holland are jointly charged with perverting the course of justice, while Cairns alone faces a perjury charge.
Ms Wass said his arrogance as a "golden boy" of international cricket had led him to believe he would never be caught match-fixing - but he was "caught at the boundary".
Although Cairns was not charged with match-fixing, Ms Wass told the jury they must be sure he did cheat before deciding on current charges. The prosecution would provide "clear evidence" he did, including statements from former Black Caps.
Chris Cairns leaves Southwark Crown Court on October 7. Photo / Getty Images
Path to court
• Cairns suspended from Chandigarh Lions in the Indian Cricket League in October 2008.
• Public reason given was an ankle injury causing underperformance which put him in breach of his contract.
• Rumours arose that Cairns and others involved in match-fixing.
• January 2010, Lalit Modi, Indian Premier League chairman, tweeted: "Chris Cairns removed from IPL auction list due to his past record of match-fixing. This was done by the governing body today."
• Cairns sued Modi for libel in British High Court, swore on oath he'd never cheated at cricket.
• Won defamation case March 2012, Modi ordered to pay £1.4m damages and costs.
• Cairns on trial for perjury, perverting course of justice.
• It's alleged that his statement he never contemplated or was involved in match-fixing is a lie. Cairns and friend Andrew Fitch-Holland allegedly approached former teammate Lou Vincent to give false statement in libel trial.
